In an interview with local media in Slovenia, free agent point guard Goran Dragic revealed he had knee surgery during the 2022/23 season, which is why he was released by the Bulls and only played seven games after he signed with the Bucks, per of Siol.net. Dragic previously said he was dealing with left knee soreness.
“I played really well until the middle of the season, then I had problems with a knee injury, so after that, it was kind of all agreed that they would bring Patrick Beverley to Chicago, and I went to Milwaukee. Then I also underwent knee surgery, which until now no one knew,” Dragic said (hat tip to BasketNews.com).
The 37-year-old said he’d like to return to the Heat if he’s able to, writes Lenart.
“The main desire is to return to Miami,” Dragic said. “Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a slow start. When this is known, the movement for the other players will open as well.
“We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see.”
However, there’s “nothing imminent” on a deal between the Heat and Dragic, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (via Twitter). If a deal were to happen, it would likely be closer to training camp, according to Jackson.
“The Dragon” played seven seasons with Miami from 2014-21, making his lone All-Star appearance in ’17/18. He played 58 total games last season, averaging 6.3 points and 2.6 assists on .421/.359/.689 shooting.
Here’s more out of Miami:
- As of mid-week, apparently the Trail Blazers had been “unmotivated” to seriously engage with the Heat on a potential Lillard trade, according to Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). Jackson’s reporting isn’t very surprising. Blazers GM Joe Cronin recently said a deal could take “months,” while other reports have stated there hasn’t been much progress in talks.
- Appearing on JJ Redick‘s The Old Man and the Three podcast, Gabe Vincent discussed his decision to join the Lakers and leave Miami, as Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes. “It was very difficult,” Vincent said of leaving the Heat. “The relationships that I have with those guys are, to me, lifelong. Even the guys that I played with, to the staff, to the front office. I got to know all of them very well and closely. So it wasn’t an easy decision.” Financial constraints were the obstacle, with Vincent later telling Chiang he’d miss his teammates and will always look back fondly on his time with the organization.
- Dru Smith is back with the Heat, on his fourth two-way deal in under two years, after finishing last season with the Nets on a two-way contract. He spoke this week about why he keeps ending up in Miami, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required). “I think it’s because I’m a good fit,” Smith said. “I think just the way the Heat like to play, the style of basketball they like to play, I think it fits my game well. I think I’m lucky to be here. I’m thankful to have this opportunity again.”
One big ‘news of Lillard to the Heat’ yawn from me!
Maybe that explains why Goran didnt play in the playoff matchup, although he was playing before, so I dont think that is the reason. Would have been a good fit against us in that matchup, but I’m not complaining
I still hope we can see him back at some point, and his jersey retired, but it’s tough when they have Herro. If they had traded for KD last year, Goran would have been brought home. Right now, I’m not so sure with the last couple of roster spots
Lillard to Heat, one destination only
4 team deal
Harden to Clippers, one destination only
4-team deal
Starting points
The teams want to help Heat and Clippers will need to sacrifice by offering qualified players AND unproteced first round picks
The Dragon to the Heat …..
I like to see him end it there. Backing Dame.
To be honest. I don’t see what the hold up is with Herro. I wouldn’t mind him on Knicks. He’d grow some in NY lol.
I find it hard to believe the valuation on Herro is the hang-up also.
I do agree “with other reports” that there hasn’t been a lot of progress in talks between Portland and anybody
This has been somewhat of an unusual off-season
No no, not where Dame decides he’s going.
More like where Portland decides Dame is going (e.g. who provides the best return).
No rush on Portland’s part. Eventually a team will pony up the assets they deserve in return. Dames preference is really moot as long as he goes to a “contender”.
I wanted to go to Hogwartz then to the University of Wakanda to prepare me for my comfy desk job with the Empire as the HR President of Employee Benefits.
So, after that happened, I received word that some magical Jedi Stormtroopers wanted to join the Alliance because they had Vibranium. I first said, “No way we’ll allow them to go there. We’ll assign them to Hoth.” But after some thought, I realized that employees are going to go where they want to go, no matter what I wanted. So, I convinced our Board that it was better to let those magical, rebellious Stormtroopers go where they wanted, and we’d get some concessions in return. In the end, I got the Empire’s Board a deal that involved sending those magical Stormtroopers to their preferred destination. In return, we got access to provide some Social Studies education material to Hogwartz, the Jedi Academy and Wakanda. We recruited some honorary kids like Ben Solo, N’Jadaka, and Tom Riddle and his circle of friends. And by the time their futures were set, I already had my new comfy life with a beachfront condo in Canto Bight, cute little cottage in London, and a nice semi-rural retreat just a couple of hours out of Birnin Zana. Oh, and I had a side deal that eventually landed me with a job on the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
Good thing I didn’t live in the fantasy world of thinking that I can keep employees from going where they want to go.
This is a business of independent contractors not hiring, and supervising desk workers, and hotel maids.
And unfortunately for you Portland doesn’t have to trade Lillard anywhere if they don’t want to for 3 more seasons.
Stopping an employee from going where they want to go? Talk about subterfuge…
That is not at all what this situation is about, but we live in crusty world with salty crackers.
It’s like you guys have never watched what happens in the NBA. The only time a team actually pulled off trading a star to a destination that he didn’t want to go to was when San Antonio traded Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. And last I checked, they were only able to pull it off because Popovich has the street cred and respect in the NBA, and, even with that, Leonard went on to get Toronto a championship in his one season before he left for his preferred destination. A team would have to know that Dame will certainly get them a championship in order to acquire him. If they can’t, you know they’ll regret it when he starts acting up in his new destination. Facts are that the Trailblazers have to make the best deal within the market. Dame and his agent put them in a place where teams don’t want to jump in a bidding war over a guy that may cause more issues for their teams than not. Thus, as much as Portland wants the world, they’re going to have to settle with what’s realistically offered to them. And if they keep him, they run the risk of a clubhouse cancer that disrupts the development of their young players of the future.
I don’t agree with the approach that Dame and his agent did, but we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. And as much as we may hate it, the reality is this is what happens in the NBA. The stars have the power, contract or not, to demand where they want to go. They have leverage, even without no-trade clauses, because the second they say they have a preferred destination and they won’t play anywhere else, most prospective trade destinations bow out because it’s a huge gamble and can be franchise destroying if you trade a bunch of assets and players for a star like Dame, but then get nothing out of him because he doesn’t want to play for you.
Some nba players and non-Blazer fans might think Dame is owed something. What he’s owed is the value of being a lifetime LEGEND in a small market. The Blazers are simply not a destination for FA and not necessarily the ownerships fault. Same as Sacramento, Cleveland and OKC. It’s not a place you clamor to go to unless they have some Uber star that has the ability to go to the finals like the LBJ/Cavs, Jokic/Nuggets and Duncan/Spurs. The Blazers have paid Dame a lot of money and to their credit they had ZERO intentions on trading him UNLESS he asked them to trade him. How many ownership groups that KNOW it’s time for a rebuild continue to pay enormously to keep their best trade asset? Of course Dame has box office appeal to ownership but they would NOT be demonized if they choose to cut bait on payroll in leu of cheaper and younger players? The only fault to either side I can access is Lillard’s camp declaring publicly that the only team Lillard would be happy playing for is the Heat. It could be assumed that Dame wants to go to Miami but to have his agent call teams directly AND be quoted saying he “only wants to go to miami” was a despicable act in my opinion. We focus on the Blazers “doing Dame wrong” but almost no one in the media talks about how that declaration basically handcuffed the Blazers. Kudos to Blazers management for not acquiescing to those who insists they do “right by Dame “ and accepts a less than substantial return in terms of young players and meat top 10 picks. I mean 5 picks from the Heat might not even get you to a lottery pick.
Great insight! I’m a long time Blazers fan, and to me his last season was an exhibition of talent to set up a trade. Why else would they shut down an offense that was clicking going 10-4 to start the season. They played their young bench big minutes up until then, then cut the playing time of bench while starters time rose to 38 minutes plus. And presto Lillard was all over the internet as his scoring soared to 71 points in a game (that’s shopping him). They kept blaming injuries for their losses but it was actually “selfishness” that ruined their season. Chauncey said at the beginning of the year “no hero ball” but that’s all Lillard plays here. Each year the league appears more scripted by the game. Endorsement $$$ has truly turned the NBA into N.othing B.ut A.ctors!
Blazers can let Lillard sit, and it’s really not a problem. They should if Herro, Robinson, or Lowry, and 2 1st round picks is the real offer, and not just a rumor.
If Miami had better picks I wouldn’t laugh at it, but considering what Utah received for Gobert, this rumored offer is an insult by any measure.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder… And hopefully NBA teams’ wallet’s deeper!
Why gobert? He was under old cba. The new cba has created new problems. Teams will value their picks way more and good luck moving huge contracts.
Then those contracts won’t be traded unless the player is unproductive, or some other incentive comes along.
If this actually happens that Portland gets a zero return such as Lowry, Robinson, no Herro, and 2 Miami 1st’s… it will bury the Portland franchise forever.
I know I’ll never go back if it does. A lot of people don’t care, but being a small market is hard enough without losing your best player in franchise history possibly for literally nothing… A couple late 1st’s, and 2 players who won’t leave the bench.
It makes my stomach turn thinking about it.
Pick one. 1.Lillard to Heat for Jamie, Jovic, Lowry (or Hero) and picks. 2. Lillard for Brogdon, Walsh, White and picks. 3. Lillard to 76s for Maxey and Tobias (flip) Then trade Grant and Nurkic for a young PF, C and SF whatever they need. 1 2 or 3?
Dame will “approve” (although it’s not strictly speaking necessary) a trade somewhere else. He’s not going to Miami. I’m not 100% sure Miami even wants him with that contract attached, and their interest probably gets lighter and lighter as the off-season goes on and the minimum salary market gets picked clean. If they trade say Jovic, Herro, and Robinson, who the heck else gonna play besides the “big three”? They’ll be right at the 2nd apron and so only minimum salary guys allowed and prohibited from working the buy out market.
I think this is totally overblown. Dame wants to go to Miami but Miami hasn’t said anything.
Lillard doesn’t solve our size disadvantage. We need another big. Bam can’t do it alone.