Why The Miami Heat Need Goran Dragic

After a season that saw very little go right for the Miami Heat, they now must address one of the few bright spots of the 2014-15 campaign.

That would be the looming free agency of point guard Goran Dragic, who has already declared that he will opt out of the final year of his deal and look to sign a long-term extension. The good news is that difference between Dragic’s impending free agency and that of the last important player that opted out of his deal is there’s a bit more transparency from Dragic – he’s on the record stating he wants to stay in Miami. No smiling faces with hidden agendas here.

When team president Pat Riley pulled off the trade that brought Dragic to Miami from Phoenix, he knew that selling the Heat’s culture would be a major factor in keeping him beyond this season. That mission seems to have been accomplished.

Dragic’s importance to the Heat on the court goes without saying, as they struggled with continuity from the point guard position, while leaving Dwyane Wade as the primary ball-handler. Miami went from last in the league in pace before the trade, to 21^st in the 30 games after Dragic’s arrival (not overly exciting, but a nine spot improvement when having to deal with the likes of Henry Walker and Michael Beasley is worth something). He would see his assists averages go up after the deal (4.1 to 5.3), while finishing his time with the Heat second in scoring (16.6 ppg) and third in field goal percentage (50.2%). That last stat is what makes him unique, as he’s a point guard that shoots at a high percentage from the field, and finishes at an absurd rate at the basket – sixth in the league in field goal percentage (68.4%) less than five feet, post-All-Star break (minimum an average of five attempts a game); that’s center numbers!

The real treat would have been the Heat throwing out a lineup of Dragic/Wade/Luol Deng/Chris Bosh/Hassan Whiteside that would have been a nightmare for opposing defenses, as they would have to worry about the guards driving to the basket; Deng cuts; Bosh stepping out for jumpers; and Whiteside lurking near the rim for whatever was left. Unfortunately Bosh’s blood clots wouldn’t let that come to fruition, but Heat fans have something to look forward to in 2015-16.

And while Dragic’s importance to the Heat can’t be understated, his desire to get paid will overshadow things. Again, his agenda isn’t hidden behind a smiling face.

Which is something he definitely deserves to explore. Dragic turned 29 last week and is entering what could be his only chance to score a big payday, and you have to know that he and his agent know full well that they’re holding all the cards against Riley. Miami gave up scrap parts to acquire him back in February, but also included two future first-round picks to help the Suns agree to the deal. To do all that for a half-season rental, while also missing the playoffs, is ridiculous to process; even Riley acknowledged that if he can’t bring Dragic back, he might have a different role in the future.

Let’s not forget last summer’s departure of You Know Who is still lurking as a shadow over the Heat’s front office. If Dragic were to move on, that would mean two big free agents that the Heat couldn’t bring back into the fold, for one reason or another. Does that not put another crack into the armor about their culture?

Unlike that other guy, this transaction looks to be about maximizing salary, and the Heat have the advantage over other suitors. The Heat picked up Dragic’s “Bird Rights” in the trade and now can offer him an additional $20 million more than any other team. That’s not a problem, as Miami has shown time and again that they’re willing to spend big money to shore up a championship contender. Offering Dragic a max deal will end his flirtation with free agency before it even begins. That seems easy enough.

Yet is Dragic a player worthy of a max deal? That’s what Riley and the Heat have to be thinking to themselves, committing that kind of money to a player who really hasn’t done enough in the league to earn it. One associates max deals with franchise changing players – That Guy; Wade; Kevin Durant – and not those who went for 17.1 points and 5.9 assists per game over his last three seasons as a full-time starter. Of course those numbers were kept in check by the addition of players like Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas, players who play the same position as Dragic, needing to also have the ball in their hands to be effective.

But even if the Heat tried to offer market value (something like Bledsoe’s $14 million per year seems to be in the ballpark of Dragic’s true value) they could face heavy competition for his services – the Lakers and Knicks lurking as likely teams looking to add a point guard/make a big splash to quench the thirst of their fans/big market media and will have money to blow. Remember that those were the two other teams that Dragic would accept a trade to, so they both know that there’s some sort of interest there.

Considering the shape of the rest of the point guard market in free agency – Brandon Knight, who’s likely to re-sign in Phoenix, or else the Suns would have pulled off the dumbest trades (Dragic, and Thomas to Boston) of the last few years; and Rajon Rondo, who has done everything to destroy his value with an underwhelming effort for the Dallas Mavericks – Dragic will be the crown jewel of point guards, so a bidding war is likely.

The bright side is that because of the impending salary cap-ocalypse coming in the summer of 2016, where the cap will jump from $67 million (this summer) to close to $90 million, a max deal for Dragic wouldn’t look so bad fitting into that structure.

So why do the Heat need Goran Dragic? Because of what he brings to the table on the court – a quicker offense; bigger threat in the Eastern Conference – as well as what his departure could mean off the court – has Riley lost touch? But if money is indeed the object of Dragic’s desires, then the Heat should follow the immortal words of Teddy KGB from the movie Rounders:

“Pay him. Pay that man his money.”