The Miami Heat are not interested in signing Goran Dragic despite the NBA veteran being open to playing for the franchise again, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Dragic has played in 391 games with the Heat. The point guard is currently an unrestricted free agent.
The Heat tried to trade for Damian Lillard, but the Portland Trail Blazers sent the superstar to the Milwaukee Bucks. Miami also missed out on Jrue Holiday, who was sent from the Blazers to the Boston Celtics.
Dragic played for the Chicago Bulls and Bucks last season. He appeared in 58 games and averaged 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 42.1% from the field, 35.9% from beyond the arc and 68.9% from the free-throw line.
The 37-year-old Dragic has career averages of 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 946 games with the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Heat, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Bulls and Bucks. He has made one All-Star team and one All-NBA team. Dragic also won the 2013-14 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with the Suns.
The Heat lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Finals in five games. Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers to the Heat, but Portland was never interested in what Miami had to offer for Lillard. The Heat felt they never had a legitimate opportunity to negotiate a Lillard trade with the Blazers, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
The Heat believe they could have included a third team and netted the Blazers up to three first-round picks with the inclusion of Tyler Herro. However, Portland wasn’t interested in doing business with Miami.
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