There won’t be a Heat reunion this season. Goran Dragic signing with the Nets
As expected, Goran Dragic is not reuniting with the Miami Heat this season. He’s heading to another Eastern Conference contender.
The former Heat guard is signing with the Brooklyn Nets to join a roster that already includes Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. Dragic, 35, became a free agent last week after agreeing to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite being traded by Miami as part of the Kyle Lowry deal last offseason, Dragic recently became eligible to sign with the Heat after the Toronto Raptors traded him and he was then bought out by the Spurs. He played in just five games with the Raptors this season before Toronto announced in late November that Dragic would be taking time away from the team because of a personal matter.
Dragic spent a lot of time in Miami leading up to his decision to join the Nets. Dragic even attended recent Heat games at FTX Arena, leading to speculation that he could return to the Heat.
But the Heat did not show much interest in bringing back Dragic this season, according to a league source, with no clear role for him in Miami. The Heat’s guard rotation is already crowded with Lowry, Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent playing consistent minutes, and Victor Oladipo’s potential return would add another guard to the mix.
With Dragic’s new contract only for the remainder of the season, he’ll become a free agent this summer. A potential Heat reunion is more likely in the offseason depending on Miami’s roster situation and how the next few months go for Dragic in Brooklyn.
Current Heat players, especially Jimmy Butler, remain close with Dragic.
The Heat faces the Nets two more times this season — in Brooklyn on March 3 and in Miami on March 26. The Nets entered the All-Star break in eighth place in the East standings, seven games behind the first-place Heat.
Among the Heat’s all-time leaders, Dragic ranks 10th in games played (391), eighth in shots made (2,335), sixth in three-point shots made (588), 10th in free throws made (1,090), third in assists (2,034) and eighth in points (6,348). Although Dragic never won a championship in seven seasons with the organization, he’s considered one of the best point guards in Heat history.
As for the Heat, it will soon have one open spot on its 15-man roster that it can use to shop the buyout market or sign an already available free agent. Forward Haywood Highsmith’s 10-day deal with Miami expires following Friday’s game against the New York Knicks.
This story was originally published February 21, 2022 at 2:49 PM.
