Goran Dragic Stays in Miami: 5-years, $90 Million

As expected, Goran Dragic is staying in Miami, and after missing the playoffs last year in their first post-LeBron season, expectations will be sky high for the Heat in 2015-2016. Dragic inked a 5-year, $90 million deal today, leaving Dwyane Wade as the last deal Miami needs to get worked out. This should not be difficult: Backload the deal so he gets balloon payments when the cap goes up in 2-years, and keep him happy. Financially, Miami is in great shape.

I speculated on my radio show the Heat could be a Top 4 team in the East next year. When you toss in the likes of Atlanta and Toronto likely losing rotation players and the Bulls getting a new coach, it’s not out of the question that Miami could rise as high as the 2nd or 3rd seed in the East.

1) Josh McRoberts, a pivotal rotation cog in Charlotte, played just 17 games last year due to injury. There’s no pressure on him in Miami – he’ll probably play 25 minutes a night off the bench. That’s assuming they don’t move him.

2) Chris Bosh missed nearly half the season (38 games) due to injury. He didn’t play one game with Goran Dragic.

3) Hassan Whiteside, who came out of nowhere to block 2.5 shots a game, only played 48 games. Assuming he can avoid the mental mistakes next season, he’ll be one of the best rim protectors in the NBA.

4) Justise Winslow. I’m going to stop hyping him. But will he be the 6th man of the year as a rookie?

5) How’s this rotation, one day into free agency:
C – Whiteside-Birdman
PF – Bosh-McRoberts
SF – Deng-Winslow
SG – Wade-Tyler Johnson
PG – Dragic-Chalmers-Napier

Depending on what happens in Atlanta and Chicago – if the Hawks lose Millsap/Carroll and the Bulls lose Jimmy Butler, all or none of which may happen – it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Heat soar up as high as #2 in the East.

Cleveland is definitely #1.