Should the Miami Heat trade Goran Dragic to the Phoenix Suns?

By Malcolm Haynes | May 5, 2018

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 5: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat shoots a lay up against the Phoenix Suns on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Could the Miami Heat find a trade deal with the Phoenix Suns?

Part of the NBA mythos is the cyclical nature of time. The Miami Heat best illustrated that this season with the return of Dwyane Wade.

The Phoenix Suns are also doing their part to profess the temporal canon. They recently selected Slovenian national team coach and former Suns assistant Igor Kokoskov, as their new head coach.

Guess who else is from Slovenia? Heat guard Goran Dragic. Oh, and potential number one pick Luka Doncic.

There are plenty of reasons for the Suns to select Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, Doncic is perhaps the most NBA ready candidate. He is a play making wing who can attack the rim and shoot. Put him next to Devin Booker and the Suns may have completed their version of “The Process.”

However, the Suns should take note of how poorly the New York Knicks have handled Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is clearly not happy with the Knicks and may opt to join another team after his rookie contract expires.

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It would be smart for the Suns to avoid similar problems with Doncic. The Suns can do this, in part, by surrounding Doncic with familiar faces. Heck, it’s also a good idea to surround the new head coach with familiar faces. And no face is more familiar to a Slovenian than that of Goran Dragic.

After leading Slovenia to a EuroBasket championship last year, Dragic was voted the most influential man in Slovenia. He also made the NBA All-Star team for the first time. A very good point guard is exactly what the Suns need.

Last year, the Suns traded for former Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton. The experiment failed and Payton is a free agent this year. The Suns have another PG on the roster, Brandon Knight. But Knight is coming off an ACL tear. Research shows that after an ACL tear, playing time, games played and player efficiency ratings significantly decrease.

Besides Dragic’s ability as a player, he has a personal connection with both the head coach and Doncic. Dragic played with Doncic on the Slovenian national team and he played for Kokoskov. Dragic would instantly provide familiarity for both Kokosov and Doncic both on and off the court. There is little question the Suns could benefit from acquiring Goran Dragic.

The Heat on the other hand, need to consider a rebuild. They are well coached and play hard, but simply do not have the resources to defeat teams brimming with talent like Philadelphia, Boston, and Cleveland. The Heat also lack cap room to sign a star or assets to trade to acquire one. Moving Goran Dragic for assets will help put the Heat in position to land the next disgruntled star and it’s a move team president Pat Riley has to consider.

The Heat should trade Goran Dragic to the Suns in exchange for Brandon Knight and a return of the 2021 Miami Heat unprotected first round pick.

The Suns get an All-Star in Dragic who can ease the transition for a new head coach and young draft pick. Dragic will also help ease the pressure on Booker, giving him easier scoring opportunities.

The Heat would also regain their 2021 draft pick, allowing them greater flexibility to make deals moving forward. In addition, the Heat are one of the best organizations at physical rehab and are likely to get Knight as close as possible to his old form.

Best of all, the move saves about $4 million in cap room, which is likely enough for the Heat to re-sign Wayne Ellington without going into the luxury tax.

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Riley will never tank. But, trading Dragic to the Suns would give the Heat more flexibility and could be a win-win situation for everyone.