The Orlando Magic would love to pry Goran Dragic from the Miami Heat, but it will take an even better deal than what they’ve offered so far.
Goran Dragic is having his most impressive season since being traded to the Miami Heat in 2015, but recent rumors imply that he may be traded again. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, teams have targeted the Heat as potential sellers before the NBA trade deadline and some, including the Orlando Magic, have zeroed in on Dragic.
"The most substantive trade proposal generating buzz among the various team officials, scouts and agents assembled this week at the Hershey Centre: Orlando, according to league sources, recently tried to engage Miami on a Goran Dragic deal in which the Magic were said to be offering center Nikola Vucevic and a future first-round pick.The Heat, of course, already have a well-compensated starting center in Hassan Whiteside and, sources say, had no interest in Orlando’s pitch. The South Beachers continue to leave the impression that they’re resistant to surrendering Dragic before the Feb. 23 trade deadline."
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This isn’t the first time the Magic and Heat have been linked in a Dragic deal. Orlando has been clear about its intentions to avoid another draft lottery and make the playoffs this season, and are seeking backcourt scoring. With the acquisitions on Bismack Biyombo and Serge Ibaka last summer, Vucevic has become expendable.
However, as Stein notes, the Heat just paid Whiteside big money and aren’t seeking to double down on the center position, even as Vucevic is under contract for two years after this season on a team-friendly deal. Vucevic might be interesting as an Enes Kanter-type sixth man, but something like that is likely low on Miami’s wish list.
It’s the future first-round pick that Orlando offered that’s interesting. The Heat traded two future first rounders to acquire Dragic from Phoenix, and could use as many picks as possible as a long-term rebuild looks likely. However, team president Pat Riley may be holding out for an offer he can’t refuse–one that may fully restock his chest of assets.