Miami Heat FA: Andre Iguodala Out For Now, Goran Dragic In… For Now?
The Miami Heat had decisions to make on Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala by the deadline on August 1st. When it came to whether they would pick up or decline each of the options that the team had on both those guys, they chose to pick up Goran’s $19 million and decline Iggy’s $15 million.
Among these two outcomes, Iguodala is the easier one to diagnose. Though the Miami Heat may and likely want him back in the mix, not at the rate of $15 million.
It also probably wasn’t something they could move in a trade. That’s the sticky part about Goran Dragic’s situation now.
While the fact that they opted to pick up his option would immediately come off as a thought of, potentially, keeping Goran Dragic in the fold for this season, that isn’t necessarily the case. Greg Sylvander of Five Reasons Sports had an interesting perspective that seems to be… very logical and likely.
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The Miami Heat chose to pick up Goran Dragic’s option but decline Andre Iguodala’s. What does it all mean moving forward?
The Miami Heat will almost assuredly operate as an over the cap team now.
— Greg Sylvander (@GregSylvander) August 1, 2021
With access to full mid level exception & bi annual exception.
I don’t think the Heat picking up Dragic option is indication he is staying in Miami. Quite the opposite actually.@5ReasonsSports
With Goran Dragic still being a desired player and with the ability to use his$19.4 million dollars to do some salary cap magic in the form of making new player acquisitions, he could be just as valuable to the Miami Heat going out the door as he would be coming back to play. Now, that doesn’t illustrate the want or desire to have him back as a fanbase, it simply describes the business nuance and actuality of it all.
While there haven’t been any indications, for certain, on what it all means, where, or if he is on the way out, there are a few running theories that make sense. The one that most hits home and seems likely, all at the same time, is the situation with the Dallas Mavericks.
Tim Hardaway Jr. could be a target for the Heat and with a sign and trade, it could be accomplished, one would think. There is also the possibility of something similar to help facilitate landing Kyle Lowry.
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There are quite a few things available to them and on the table now, perhaps even keeping him. While that seems like the least likely to occur at this moment, anything is on the table.
Keep your eyes peeled though. Things are really about to get interesting.