The Miami Heat are hoping to keep Goran Dragic in free agency after making a trade for him this season and he will be a main target as a free agent for the NY Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets along with names like Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe and Kevin Love and that could make the summer of 2015 very interesting in the NBA.
Dragic became the top target at the trading deadline once the Suns knew for sure that he would not be re-signing with the team and after that the Knicks, Lakers and Miami heat showed interest in him. The Heat ended up with Dragic after giving up some first round picks and now they are hoping to bring him back on a max contract after giving up that compensation. The picks were not too valuable since they will be used in a couple years (possibly 2017, 2018 or 2019) and that is why the team felt comfortable making the trade.
The Lakers and Knicks did not want to give up compensation like that when they could try and woo Dragic in free agency and that appears to be the plan for both teams. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are planning to offer Dragic the max contract they are allowed to give and that would be around $80 million for four seasons. The Lakers have been clamoring for a star point guard for years and with Steve Nash not working out, Dragic and Rondo will be the next targets for the team.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report writes that Dragic is "hoping" to stay in Miami, but that he will explore free agency this summer. Dragic is one of the hottest names on the market and he likely will be the top target if Kevin Love doesn't opt out of his deal in Cleveland. Rajon Rondo also will be a prime target for the Knicks and the Lakers, but those teams may want the youth of Dragic over Rondo.
Dragic will hit the market, as he has a $7.5 million player option that no one ever expected him to pick up. Dragic won most improved player of the year last season and he is in line to get big money on the market. The Miami Heat can offer him an extra year and more money for a deal for over $100 million and that could be what keeps him in South beach. The season has not been successful for the Heat after LeBron James left, but they have a solid core with Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside and they could be very good if they keep Dragic.
The Knicks are going to be a very active team in free agency and according to the NY Post, the team will be chasing Dragic and Rondo, as they desperately need a point guard. The team is likely to try and woo a couple free agents and they may look at Greg Monroe, as Marc Gasol is expected to stay in Memphis. Love will also be a target fi he opts out, but right now that is not a certainty.