Goran Dragic to Miami Means Nobody Will Want to Play the Heat in the First Round

Goran Dragic’s trade to the Miami takes the Heat from fighting for the 8th playoff spot to firmly in the postseason – injuries pending, as always – and possibly a 1st round date with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And LeBron.

It’s funny to think that just a month ago, the Heat could have contemplated tanking – the players openly discussed being exhausted, free agent Josh McRoberts was lost for the season due to injury, and Miami was supposedly talking about moving Luol Deng in a trade. The Heat were six games under .500.

But this deadline magic from Pat Riley to gamble on Dragic – turns 29 in May, shot 50 percent from the field last year and this year, career 36 percent 3-point shooter – could make the Heat the most dangerous road team in the 1st round.

A starting lineup of Dragic-Wade-Deng-Bosh-Hassan Whiteside is impressive. Whiteside has only played 25 games and is averaging just 19 minutes a game, but he’s blocked 59 shots in that limited period of time (including five games with 4+ blocks). Following the Dragic trade, the bench has been reduced to nothing, with Shabazz Napier and Birdman Anderson leading the way. The Heat’s best chance: steal some games for Wade here and there, keep Bosh fresh, and go into the postseason just hoping to ride the starters to a shocking upset of the Hawks or Cavs.

I’m aware the Hawks have had an incredible 1st half of the season, but are you definitely taking them over a healthy Heat team in the 1st round? Give it some thought.

Of course, this all-in move by Pat Riley could backfire. An injury or two and missing the playoffs but not finishing among the bottom 10 sends their 1st round pick to the 76ers. What if Dragic doesn’t work out and they decide against inking him to a long term deal? The Heat don’t have the picks to build, and financially, they’re handcuffed.