Goran Dragic: The Price Is Right?
By Greg Chin
The Miami Heat head into the offseason with some important decisions to make – faced with several key contract negotiations, one wrong move and the future of their franchise could be at stake.
With key rotation figures like Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, and Luol Deng all potentially ending up as free agents come July, Miami could face a difficult time restructuring their roster while remaining competitive.
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One of the biggest news regarding the Heat’s contract negotiations this week was that they were ready to offer Goran Dragic a contract worth $80 million over five years. Dragic was acquired in a trade before the February deadline, and since then, played a key role in the Heat’s offense.
But, we are yet to see the full potential of Dragic in the Heat’s offense, as Chris Bosh was diagnosed with a blood clot that prevented him from playing in the second half of the season. The Bosh and Dragic pick-and-roll combination, in theory, should be a dangerous one.
When Dragic played alongside Channing Frye in the 2013-14 season, the Phoenix Suns’ offense was a force to be reckoned with. The extra spacing given to Dragic by a floor-spacing big man allows him to drive and attack the rim – his best skill.
The question here is this: is the 29-year old point guard really worth $80 million over the next five years? The $16 million per year salary will put him as the sixth-best paid point guard in the league, when he might not necessarily be the sixth-best point guard yet. There is also the concern that the Heat will be paying him $16 million when he is 34 and nearing the end of his career.
It will be a risky gamble for the organization, but it seems as though they have no other choice but to put all their chips into Dragic. If the Heat are unable to convince Dragic to stay, the duo of Wade and Bosh will surely not be enough to lead them into the playoffs next season.
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With Dragic completing their new “Big Three,” the Heat could see themselves sneak in as one of the top four teams in the East.
And with the coming jump in the salary cap, a $16 million per year salary isn’t as pricey as it sounds. The 2017-18 salary cap is projected to be at $108 million, which would give the Heat more wiggle room to add players during the 2017 offseason.
Plus, Dragic was reportedly linked with seeking a max contract worth $100 million over five years, which would significantly hamper the Heat’s chances of convincing Wade to re-sign with the team.
As for Dragic’s perspective, it all comes down to whether he values the extra year that only the Miami Heat can give him over a bigger contract. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are reportedly also interested in signing Dragic, but can only give him $85 million over four years.
The annual salary comes out to $21.25 million, which is $5 million more than what the Heat are reportedly offering, but comes with one less contracted year. Furthermore, signing with the Heat could give Dragic a better shot at a title, considering the Knicks and the Lakers are still in the rebuilding phase.
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