According to the latest NBA trade rumors, Goran Dragic is open to a trade away from the Miami Heat. Here are five teams that should consider trading for him.
As the calendar prepares to flip to 2017 and the February trade deadline creeps closer, plenty of disgruntled players make their way into the latest NBA trade rumors.
According to The Vertical’s Chris Mannix, Goran Dragic is open to a trade away from the Miami Heat, and team president Pat Riley has already pursued that option. There were talks before the season of sending Dragic to the Sacramento Kings for Rudy Gay and Darren Collison, but the Kings backed out once Miami tried to add Collison to the equation.
Dragic denied the rumors, but in any event, Mannix reports the Heat are still open to trade offers for Dragic, who originally joined the team believing it was one piece away from contending in the East. That obviously hasn’t materialized with both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both gone, and Dragic and Hassan Whiteside haven’t been enough to drag Miami from the depths of the Eastern Conference cellar at 10-20.
That being said, the 30-year-old Dragic is having his best season since 2013-14, when he earned Third Team All-NBA honors and the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award. The Dragon is averaging 19.2 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range.
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With two years and $35.1 million left on Dragic’s deal after this season, plus a $19.2 million player option for 2019-20, the Heat would be wise to capitalize on Dragic’s current value and trade him for a package that aligns with Miami’s long-term plans.
Keep in mind, Riley sacrificed first round picks in 2019 and 2021 to acquire Dragic, so the Heat would need — and probably can get — more out of a potential deal than just a salary dump.
But what teams would be interested? Here’s a look at five teams — plus one honorable mention — that might want to trade for Goran Dragic, and what those potential trade offers might look like.