First, the Morris twins.
Now, Goran Dragic and Zoran Dragic.
It’s not a good summer for NBA-teammate brothers sticking together.
Dan Le Batard of ESPN:
Zoran Dragic had been traded to Boston. Heat really like Richardson. Goran is fine with it. Zoran wants playing time.
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) July 27, 2015
Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
Miami Heat have traded Zoran Dragic & a 2nd round pick to Boston for a heavily-protected 2nd round pick. Move could save Heat $6 million
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 27, 2015
Ira Winderman of the South Florida SunSentinel:
The Heat pick going to Boston is a 2020 second-round pick, a legitimate one, not the protected, vanishing type Heat have received.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 27, 2015
The Heat are trying to trim their roster and luxury-tax bill – already trading Shabazz Napier and trying to dump Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen.
But I thought Zoran was relatively safe. The Heat acquired him with Goran in the trade with the Suns, making the brothers seem like a package deal. Plus, Goran did the Heat a solid by agreeing to less than a max salary this summer. After giving up two first-round picks for him, I can’t imagine Miami would have let him leave in free agency just months later – even if it meant paying a max deal.
Alas, Zoran is out, making it easier for the Heat to keep their second-round pick, Josh Richardson. The shooting guard out of Tennessee is a solid defender, good athlete, improved shooter and decent playmaker. He must round into form, but there are a lot of skills to like.
The Celtics might not even keep Zoran. Boston now has 17 players with guaranteed contracts, and Zoran ranks pretty low on the value list. But eating his $1,706,250 salary is no big deal for the Celtics. Unlike Miami, they don’t have to pay a luxury tax on that money. Most importantly to them, they get a draft pick for their troubles.