Goran Dragic (Heat) (Photo : Getty Images)
The Miami Heat has lost its heart and soul but they successfully signed their stalwart for the future.
The Way of Wade has passed in South Beach, and now the era of Hassan Whiteside is upon them. Whiteside, however, is not a franchise player like Wade and the Heat, while they could still remain competitive, is not in any realistic way a contender.
After losing Wade, their other cornerstone is Chris Bosh and even he is in danger of early retirement if his medical condition does not pan out. Thus, the Heat will lean heavily on Whiteside, Goran Dragic and incoming sophomore Justise Winslow.
The Heat lost veterans Luol Deng and Joe Johnson earlier in free agency. They had to match the Brooklyn Nets' incredible $50 million offer. They also kept Udonis Haslem.
The roster was filled out by lower-tier free agents. Derrick Williams, Willie Reed, James Johnson and Wayne Ellington aren't exactly game-changers. With the improvement of teams like the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics who made free agency moves that take them up a tier, the Toronto Raptors quietly filling their power forward void with Jared Sullinger and the Detroit Pistons drafting well, the Heat will be hard-pressed to even make the playoffs with their personnel losses.
There are experts who believe that this is the time for the Heat to tank-transitioning from the era of Wade and probably Bosh as well. Tom Haberstroh, An ESPN NBA Insider thinks the Heat has little choice.
"Miami will need to maximize its 2017 first-round draft pick, which it owns outright," Haberstroh said. With Bosh's future in jeopardy and desperate options in free agency, Miami would be wise to rebuild with an eye on getting a high draft pick in 2017. And it starts with moving Dragic."
Haberstroh proposed a scenario where Dragic, who still has four years on a contract starting at $15.9 million, would need to be shipped to afford more cap space to sign two max free agents (if Bosh is forced to retire and his salary removed from the books).
The Houston Rockets where Dragic played for before, could use a point guard who runs best on a fast pace-especially with coach Mike D'Antoni.
"The Heat could do a sign-and-trade involving 25-year-old Donatas Motiejunas, who is a restricted free agent. Or if the Heat don't want to take back Motiejunas' contract, they could just opt for a package of Patrick Beverley, Corey Brewer and picks," Haberstroh proposed.
Heat reporter Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel had to agree that Dragic could be traded for cap space, not because he is no longer needed on the team.
"In fact, if a Dragic trade is considered, I would think it would be considered mostly because of Goran's $15.9 million salary and what that might translate into on the trade market," Winderman stated.
