Miami Heat
The Heat remains the favorite to retain the services of Goran Dragic. After spending the past five seasons with the club, Dragic indicated he was content in Miami and that happiness was his No. 1 priority for signing a new deal.
The Heat wants to preserve cap space for the summer of 2021. It plans on heavily pursuing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and will need all the financial resources possible to sign away the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar.
As Miami looks to maintain flexibility for 2021, a one-year deal could be on the table for Dragic to stay in Miami. The NBA allows teams to go over the salary cap when resigning their own players. If Dragic were to sign a one-year contract, he would be given the right to veto any potential trade this season. Furthermore, because of his service time (13 seasons) in the NBA, he could even add a no-trade clause in his contract.
Miami would certainly prefer a short-term deal with Dragic. Not only does the Heat plan to save cap space for 2021, it also wants to further develop Kendrick Nunn, the point guard of the future for the franchise. Nunn captured Rookie of the Month honors twice this season, en route to being named to the 2020 NBA All-Rookie First Team. Nunn started 67 games, but he tested positive for Covid-19 and never regained his mojo after entering the Orlando bubble. Dragic replaced Nunn in the starting lineup and the
rookie eventually was ousted from the rotation altogether for much of the playoffs.
Even with a disappointing end to Nunn’s first pro season, he is the point guard Miami likely plans to build around. Dragic, for his part, said he’d be happy to mentor guards Nunn and Tyler Herro, the rookie sensation shooting guard, moving forward.
