Goran Dragic is expected to opt out of his current contract with the Miami Heat but this doesn’t mean that the Slovenian basketball star is going to leave the team.
Rather, the move is seen as a step to something bigger in the form of a five-year contract worth about $80 million. The deal is however not a max-contract.
After acquiring Dragic at the NBA Trade deadline last February, the Slovenian superstar seemed to be at home with the Heat. Though the team failed to make it to the NBA playoffs, Dragic declared on more than one occasion that he would want to stay in South Beach.
And Heat president Pat Riley seems pretty confident that Dragic would remain with the team.
"If he doesn't sign, my ass will be in that seat [next to reporters] next year."
As a Heat, Dragic put up some impressive numbers. He averaged 16.6 points per game as well as 5.3 assists per game. These were a big jump from his usual numbers in nine NBA seasons (12.2 points and 4.5 assists).
With the new deal expected to be presented to Dragic soon, it should be interesting if the deal can cement the Heat’s hold on Dragic. With the proposed deal, the Slovenian superstar stands to earn $16.5 million per year.
But seeing that the deal is not a max contract, such could prove to be an opportunity for other teams to enter the fray.
Two teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks can offer Dragic a max contract of $85 million spread over 4 years. This means that Dragic will be receiving roughly $21 million per annum, a $5 million bump from the deal that the Heat are offering.
With that money angle on the table, it should be interesting to see if such would sway Dragic to consider signing with other teams who can offer him a max contract.
For the Heat, they can offer Dragic a max deal for five years which could breach the $100 million mark. But there may be complications ahead for that to happen.
One concern is long-time Heat player Dwyane Wade who is expected to opt out of his final year and test free agency. If the Heat are to keep Wade, chances are that he would be looking for a max deal as well.
Wade seems to have grown tired of compromises and wants to be paid the proper salary that is actually due to him. Had he opted in, Wade would have been guaranteed $16 million in the coming 2015-16 NBA season.
Another player that the Heat will have to consider is Luol Deng. There is still no word on whether what Deng intends to do. He can earn a guaranteed $10.2 million next year if he decides to pick up the player option on his contract.