Goran Dragic will stay in South Beach after all, as the Dallas Mavericks opted not to acquire the veteran point guard in a trade with the Miami Heat.
The Heat are moving pieces in preparation for a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for superstar guard Jimmy Butler. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Dragic was not included in the proposed Dallas-Heat trade.
Instead, the Mavs will get Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones from the Heat. Although Dallas was high on Dragic — and ha a good relationship with fellow Solvenian Luka Doncic — the team reportedly has fears in losing their flexibility if they make a move for the veteran point guard.
Dragic is set to get $19.22 million in the final year of his contract next season.
The Mavericks are huge fans of Goran Dragic but could not take him back in the Miami sign-and-trade with Philadelphia that sends Jimmy Butler to the Heat because Dallas feared losing its flexibility to make additional moves this summer, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2019
The Mavs are looking to add second- or mid-tier free agents this offseason, so it's understandable why they want to retain their flexibility as the market continues to heat up. Per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Dragic's agent Bill Duffy confirmed Dallas “changed course” as they deemed Goran's salary as “too high.”
The Mavericks had interest in acquiring Goran Dragic in the three-team trade construction with Miami & Philly, but “they changed course,” his agent Bill Duffy tells ESPN. “In analyzing it, his salary was too high based on other things they’re trying to do.”
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2019
It remains to be seen what the Heat will do with Dragic or if the Mavs will work on a separate trade for the playmaker. Dragic spent the last five seasons in Miami after a mid-season trade from the Phoenix Suns back in 2014.
Follow Us
Subscribe