Goran Dragic has been amazing during his time with the Miami Heat. Ever since he was traded to the team in 2015, he’s exceeded expectations.
He made his first All-Star team in 2018, helped lead the team to multiple playoff appearances, and played a massive role in their 2020 Finals run.
Last season, he averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season. He shot 43.2% from the field and 37.3% from deep.
In addition, he provides a strong veteran presence in the Heat locker room. He is also one of the few point guards they have on the roster, and the team values both his shot-making and playmaking abilities.
His impact on the Miami Heat organization is undeniable. However, this offseason is a very important one regarding his contract.
Dragic currently has a team option for the 2021-22 season. The Miami Heat would pay him $19.4 million if they decide to pick up that option.
Just under $20 million is a lot of money to pay for someone who didn’t even average 15 points last season. Dragic is a super impactful player, but it’s a lot of money nonetheless.
With all the money the Miami Heat have tied up in their two superstars, maintaining financial flexibility should be seriously considered.
On the flip side, keeping Dragic around would preserve the mutual trust between him and the organization. It could also help improve their chances of re-signing him to a cheaper deal at the end of next year.
The Miami Heat have a tough decision to make this offseason. Should they accept or decline Goran Dragic’s team option?
Miami Heat accepting the team option
Keeping Dragic on the roster would help maintain the team’s depth. He is the perfect guard to bring off the bench for both scoring and passing needs.
It may be a lot of money tied up into one player, but it also ensures that they keep him around. If they decline his option, he would become an unrestricted free agent.
There could be a bunch of teams willing to overpay for a veteran point guard like Dragic. On top of that, there’s a chance that he wants a change of scenery.
Dragic has spent a long time in Miami. He probably loves the city, but staying in the same place for so long grows old for some people.
As previously mentioned, re-signing him also keeps him happy. If the Miami Heat can keep him happy, maybe he takes a discount to stay with the team past next season.
If they accept his player option for over $19 million, taking a pay-cut next year becomes all the more likely. This way, they keep him around for the long run.
This also helps them free up a bunch of cap space next offseason. This would give the Heat more spending room and keep Dragic on the team.
A ton of superstar players such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and James Harden could be free agents next season. The Miami Heat will definitely want to have money to spend.
Miami Heat declining the team option
By declining Goran Dragic’s, the Miami Heat would open up more opportunities this offseason. There are multiple free agents they could chase with the money they would save.
The team is expected to pursue Kawhi Leonard, which would certainly require them to part ways with Dragic. Leonard would demand a max contract, which would take up a huge portion of Miami’s cap space.
The Miami Heat have also expressed interest in signing Tim Hardaway Jr. Depending on what other offers he receives, that contract could be around $20 million by itself.
As mentioned earlier, the Heat also have a ton of money wrapped up in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Continuing to pay Dragic nearly $20 million seems like a lot.
Aside from the money, Dragic is 35-years-old. Point guards start to decline as they get older, which could lead to less production.
Whileile Dragic is still a solid player at this point, you never know when his numbers could start to dip. Paying a 35-year-old point guard that amount of money could be considered a bad idea.
Whatever the Miami Heat decide to do with Dragic’s team option, it will surely be in the best interest of the team. The best-case scenario is that Dragic is willing to take less money to continue to help the Heat win.