The Miami Heat are not in the best position when it comes to salary cap for the upcoming season and beyond. The moves the team makes this offseason with current players on the roster will determine just how much space they have to work with and who they can get to help improve the team for the 2015-16 season. With several players inked to player option deals for the upcoming season, who opts to stay and who heads out?
Dwyane Wade will likely be the center piece of all the moves to follow for the Heat. The star is signed to a deal that includes a player option worth $16 million next season and then he becomes a free agent. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, there is a real concern that Wade will opt out of his current deal and command more money. There is no fear that Wade will opt out to leave. Jackson writes that Wade will retire with the Heat, but the star could be looking to get security now instead of later. If Wade opts in, money is tight for the Heat. With other players having the ability to follow suit, things could get tough in South Beach.
Luol Deng is another player with the chance to opt in or out with a $10 million option for next season. Deng could tip some dominos if he opts in along with Wade. According to FOX Sports, Goran Dragic intends to stick around South Beach, but at the tune of a max contract. Adding that deal plus the salaries to Wade and Deng and the Miami Heat only have enough money for some smaller mid-level exception. They could be hit with upwards of $10 million in luxury tax penalties.
Does the return of Deng and Wade mean Dragic is out? The point guard made it clear that he wants to return to Miami and build something special with the Heat, but he is also ready to get his money. If the Heat do not offer him a deal than someone else surely will including the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.
"To make the next step in my career, I'm looking for how I'm going to fit in with the players, with the team and what kind of style of the game that we're going to play," Dragic said, via FOXSports.com. "The last two months I felt really great here. Unfortunately, we didn't make the playoffs but we know what kind of situation it was with the team. If I'm going to stay here, I will be looking forward to playing with all of those guys -- especially with Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts because they are two big parts of this team."
The Heat have critical decisions to make. Miami wants to target free agents to help in the front court along with getting quality bench help. Team president Pat Riley has made smart decisions in bringing on Hassan Whiteside along with acquiring Dragic, but that only resulted in just missing the playoffs. Chris Bosh will be healthy next season, but there is an uphill challenge to keep everyone around.
