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Only three years removed of the most successful run in franchise history with four straight finals appearances and two championships, the Miami Heat enter this season with a lot of uncertainty.
After losing Dwyane Wade in free agency and Chris Bosh likely done with his career in South Beach, Pat Riley‘s team will have to compete with a revamped roster. Their chances of making the playoffs this year are slim with other Eastern Conference teams improving their lineups in the summer.
With this being said, their top brass have a decision to make on whether to slug it out and risk paying owed salaries even if they miss out on the postseason, or tank for next year's draft.
According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the easiest way to go with the latter option is to trade Goran Dragic and attempt to move his huge pay for any takers. He also points out that it won't be that easy even if they're able to move the 2014 Most Improved Player because of the picks they gave away to secure his services a year and a half ago:
The easiest method: trade Goran Dragic without receiving a point guard in return, leaving the offense in the hands of (mostly) unproven ball-handlers. The Heat and (Sacramento) Kings have had some vague trade talks since July — not necessarily involving Dragic, sources say — and given the Kings' shaky point guard situation, it's tempting to build deals sending Dragic to Sacramento. A half-dozen other teams are searching for a long-term answer at point guard.
Problem: Miami gave up two first-round picks for Dragic, even though he was about to hit free agency, so the Heat need real stuff in exchange for him to save face — stuff the Kings don't have. Team president Pat Riley is 71, and he obviously had no interest in a teardown when he coughed up so much for Dragic.
The Kings are looking for a capable point guard whom they could start alongside DeMarcus Cousins since their experiment with Rajon Rondo last year did not produce a winning record. Dragic is the only player worthy of their interest in the Miami roster, but as mentioned above, they have all been vague so far and not about the 30-year-old Slovenian.
If the Heat ultimately decide to tank this season, they'll have a chance to add a player from next year's talented pool since they own their first-round pick, and if they get lucky, it could be as high as the fourth or fifth selection.
The situation in Miami is definitely something worth monitoring and with only two weeks to go prior to the start of the 2016-2017 season, the wait will not be long before finding out their decision.
