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NBA Rumors: Miami Heat will offer Goran Dragic $80 million contract extension

By Jonathan Bass

Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) brings the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) brings the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat are prepared to drop a fat stack of cash on point guard Goran Dragic

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The Miami Heat are poised to lock up Goran Dragic for the intermediate. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Heat are prepared to offer Dragic a contract extension worth upwards of $80 million over the course of five years once he opts out of his current deal.

"Sources told ESPN.com that the Heat are planning to offer Dragic a five-year deal in excess of $80 million to keep him in Miami after acquiring the 2014 All-NBA third-team selection from Phoenix on trade deadline day in February."

Though a meaty contract, the $80 million falls well short of what would be a five-year max deal ($100 million). The Heat are the only team that can offer Dragic five-year contract, but other big market players can dangle four-year deals for a similar amount of money.

Miami’s desire to lock up Dragic is a look towards the future, and one of the first steps in the team’s two-year free agency tightrope act. Dwyane Wade is currently in negotiations for a longterm extension (he was originally expected to hit the market next offseason, but has now stated his desire to shore up one final big-money deal). And swing forward Luol Deng is still debating whether to cash in on a $10. 2 million player option or to hit the free market.

Depending on how the Wade situation plays out, Miami looks primed to hit the 2016 free agency period with a truckload of open cap space. If around, Deng will be expendable and if Wade doesn’t re-up, he’ll also be off the books. That leaves the team with plenty of room to make a strong push at former MVP Kevin Durant and construct another championship contender. Having Dragic in place will give free agents an idea of the nucleus Miami has in place for the run.

After being acquired midseason by the Heat, Dragic averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game – all numbers higher than his career average. Dragic is expected to opt out of his contract on July 1, at which time the big-money bidding will commence.

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