NBA Rumors: Dragic Opts In With The Heat, Trade Scenarios Aplenty

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic will be exercising his player option for next NBA season, according to multiple reports. Under normal circumstances, that would be good news although the word out is that the South Beach squad will be dangling him together with other high-salaried players to interested teams this summer.

As mentioned in a previous post, Dragic is one of two players who can opt in for next season with the Heat. The other one is Hassan Whiteside, someone who is expected to likewise opt into his $27.1 million player option. Together, Dragic and Whiteside account for $36.3 million of the Heat's salary budget - big money that Pat Riley may plan to tinker around with. Other players who hold big deals are Dion Waiters and James Johnson. In total, these four players account for $75 million in all but the investment has hardly reaped dividends for the Heat the past NBA seasons.

Dragic's run has been hampered by injuries the past years and the Slovenian was guard was limited to only 36 games last season. His numbers were not exactly impressive, seeing how he managed to average only 13.7 points and 4.8 assists - same averages he has held in his 11-year NBA career, NBA.com reported. At 33, there is no telling if the 45th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs can keep himself injury-free and such is the reason his name has surfaced in potential NBA trade scenarios.

Given the choice, Dragic said he would prefer to stay in Miami. That decision may not be his to make with the Heat likely to see who they can pluck out from the 2019 NBA Draft and lure in during free agency. In another post, the Heat could reportedly consider getting Chris Paul, P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon from the Houston Rockets - yet another team said to be overhauling their roster after their 2018-19 NBA postseason debacle.

If he finds a way to keep himself healthy, there is no question that Dragic could be an asset for any team. He still has the hops when given the chance to strut his wares on the hardwood. His only downfall right now is his inability to stay healthy - something that disrupts any NBA team's run in a grueling 82-game regular NBA season. His place for the 2019-20 NBA wars should be known this summer.