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What Goran Dragic’s Opt Out Means For Miami Heat

By Christopher Cruz

Apr 7, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) dribbles the ball past Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) in the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) dribbles the ball past Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) in the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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It was reported by Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel Friday that Goran Dragic is indeed opting out of his contract and testing the free agent market.

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All of this came after he rather forcefully indicated to the Pheonix Suns his desire to be traded midseason. Dragic will test free agency in search of a contract that is befitting of his abilities as a combo guard in the league, one who can pass and one who can score. So then the question becomes a complicated one.

It is always complicated when you’re determining market value and also other factors like loyalty to one’s team or the possibility of an even bigger contract come 2016.

Truth be told, Dragic should have gotten a max contract already. In the 2013-14 season, he scored 20 points and six assists per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. If you mix that with the fact that the Suns made an improbable run for the last playoff spot (but didn’t make it) and you realize how great he really did play.

But he had to play out his $30 million contract. In the meantime, Phoenix offered money and playing time to other players like Isaiah Thomas and paid big money to Eric Bledsoe. Naturally, Dragic wanted out.

He got his wish, going to the Miami Heat. But the team wasn’t able to pull it together to make the playoffs and now Dragic has some decisions to make. The reality is that Miami probably cannot offer him the max contract that he wants.

Right now Chris Bosh is under contract for $20 million and Dwyane Wade is under contract until next season for $15 million (which is actually a pay cut from his previous contract). Not only that but Luol Deng is signed for nearly $10 million on a player option.

Right there, you have $45 million signed to only three players, and that is not including Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, who is due some money for, let’s just say, outplaying his $769,000 contract.

So what will the Heat do? The truth is that they will probably only be able to offer him around the same amount of money he was making this past season. It will definitely not be more than $10 million.

The proposal they can offer him is this: that he sign for one year now, do something special when Bosh comes back, and then during the next offseason when the NBA heightens the salary cap, cash in at that time. Then he would be able to get even more money. Yes, it is a bummer for him. But Miami’s team, if more people don’t get blood clots in their lungs, is actually pretty good.

They’ve proven that they can do it as an organization before, so it isn’t an issue of whether they can or not.

Plus, Pat Riley‘s eyes.

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    • Other than that, Goran Dragic will have to explore his options with other teams that might not be that good but can pay for him. I am referring to a team like the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers. And who wants to do that?

    If Miami doesn’t retain Dragic, then they’ll be on the hunt for a new point guard that can play with the team, and that won’t be easy because Dragic has a specific knack for finishing at the rim. He is also a pretty good shooter from outside. The next best point guard in this year’s free agency is Rajon Rondo, whom you’d have to give more than $12 million to obtain.

    The Heat would be in the same boat with Dragic. The offer I made seems like a pretty good deal. You are on a one-year contract, and next year, when the market value of all good to great players go up, ask for more money.

    And maybe throw in that his brother lives in Miami.

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