NBA AM: HEAT Counting On Retaining Dragic

Does Pat Riley have one last championship build left?

After four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, which included two titles, the Miami HEAT organization finds itself in an unfamiliar place this time of the year – at home watching the postseason festivities (or in the case of All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, in a suit at the Finals in the broadcast booth).

The HEAT, who lost four-time MVP LeBron James last summer in free agency, are now watching the forward push an injury ravaged Cleveland Cavaliers squad to the verge of a championship. Not surprisingly, Miami missed the playoffs this season and finished below .500 for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.

Heading into the summer, the HEAT face plenty of questions on the future direction of the franchise. The squad certainly has talent, but are still in search of a few assets to get back into the title picture.

But before the team can think about adding additional firepower, most of team president Pat Riley’s efforts must first focus on the retention of two of the team’s best players this summer.

The team acquired point guard Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal at the trade deadline. The HEAT ultimately gave up Danny Granger, Justin Hamilton, Norris Cole and Shawne Williams in the deal. However, the franchise also leveraged two first round picks in the process (2017 and 2021).

The move bringing in Dragic was just what the HEAT needed from a talent standpoint. The drawback is the fact Dragic has a $7.5 million player option for next season and could opt to test unrestricted free agency. At 29, Dragic is looking to secure a multi-year deal and his first mega payday. And make no mistake, there will be plenty of suitors should the guard opt to test free agency come July.

On the surface, the HEAT have just $42 million in guaranteed salaries for next season. But this figure doesn’t include Dragic ($7.5 million), Wade ($16.1 million) and forward Luol Deng ($10.1 million) who all have player options.

Miami has a bit of leverage in the case of Dragic and Wade since they have Bird rights and can go above the salary cap restriction in order to re-sign the veterans to new deals.

Dragic averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 assists in 26 contests since arriving in Miami. The guard also shot a sparkling 50 percent from the floor and 82 percent from the charity stripe.

Failing to re-sign Dragic this summer would put the organization in scramble mode considering Wade’s aging and the departed 2017 first round pick would end up being a lottery selection for Phoenix in that scenario.

The next order of business for Riley is the contract demands for Wade. Both sides want a deal done. Neither wants to end a relationship that has been mutually beneficial since 2003, but Riley and company must be smart in regards to how much cap room is tied to Wade, who hasn’t played 70 games in a season since 2011. This is especially important considering emerging center Hassan Whiteside will hit the free agency market in 2016 and likely command a massive deal.

The HEAT could usher out a rotation led by All-Star Chris Bosh, Wade, Dragic and Whiteside next season, which would be a strong unit. But the savviness of Riley’s ability to work the salary cap will determine the supporting cast around his leading men.

This is definitely a big summer to keep an eye on in Miami.

Demand growing for All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge

Free agency is less than 30 days away and once the sizzle over the ongoing Finals and upcoming Draft end, it will dominate the league’s headlines most of the summer.

One of the most coveted players on the market will be All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who has spent his entire career with the Portland Trail Blazers.

In past years, rumors swirled that Aldridge wanted out of Portland, but the team’s resurgence after adding All-Star guard Damian Lillard seemingly quieted those thoughts and the forward was quoted plenty of times stating his desire to retire a Blazer.

But heading into free agency, there are growing rumblings that Aldridge, raised in Texas, would strongly consider a return to the state if an opportunity was presented.

According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report: “Of his potential suitors, league sources indicate that the (Dallas) Mavericks are the biggest threat to pull (LaMarcus) Aldridge away from the (Portland) Trail Blazers, but it’s the general idea of returning to Texas, not a specific destination, that appeals to him.

Both the Mavericks and (San Antonio) Spurs, of course, could have the requisite cap space, reputation of success and location. Both also may not be perfect fits. Several sources have indicated that the Spurs, for whatever reason, are either off his list or not very high on it. And the question concerning Dallas is: Does an aging Dirk Nowitzki truly give him a better chance of competing for a title? Dallas, sources say, is clearly interested, but where he sits on its priority list is not clear.”

Aldridge averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds on 47 percent shooting this past season, while appearing in his fourth straight All-Star game.