Goran Dragic is set to be a free agent this summer and the Miami Heat have the inside track to keep him in free agency, as teams like the NY Knicks, LA Lakers, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings are likely targets to chase the point guard, but the sway of a max contract offer from Miami is likely to keep in South Beach for the long term.
Dragic was the top trade target at the deadline and Miami got a deal done with a couple first round picks going to the Suns. The team is planning to offer Dragic a contract this summer and since they traded for him, they now have the inside track to keep him. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami feels that they are "in a good position" to keep Dragic and the point guard himself said that the max offer they can give is a "pretty big" deal in his decision making process.
Earlier in the season Pro Basketball Talk reported that Dragic feels the Lakers are a "perfect fit" fit him, but since they can only offer four years compared to five for Miami, it could be the difference. The report said that the Lakers will offer Dragic a max contract, but coming from them it only can be for four years and around $80 million. The Heat can offer an extra year and more money and that makes Dragic staying in Miami (and in Florida's no state income tax) more likely.
Miami traded away Norris Cole and they don't' really "love" Mario Chalmers as a point guard and that plays into Dragic staying. Dragic played in just under 30 games for Miami and he helped the team stay in playoff contention until the end of the year. Even if Dragic hits the market, Miami is expected to be the favorite to keep him. The Knicks, Lakers and Rockets all have reported interest in Dragic and if he stays, those teams could go after Rajon Rondo instead.
Dragic reportedly plans on hitting the market and seeing what offers come, but unless something blows him away, he likely will stay in Miami. Miami can offer about $30 million in extra money and that could be hard to turn down. Dragic is part of a talented lineup in Miami with Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside and fi the team knows Dragic is staying, they can continue to build around that group after the departure of LeBron James last summer.
The 28 year old had a solid season while averaging 16 points and four assists per game and that came after he set career highs in 2013 with 20 points and nearly six rebounds per game. The Knicks are planning to chase Dragic, but they have options in Rondo or a trade for Brandon Jennings. The Lakers will also go after Dragic and since both LA and the Knicks will have cap space, they can at least try to compete with the max offer from Miami. It will be hard to beat the max offer from Miami, but those teams likely will try.
