Celtics take Zoran (not Goran) Dragic from Heat along with 2nd round pick, will cut or trade him
The Miami Heat are in full-on salary dump mode, and today they sent Goran Dragic's little brother Zoran to the Celtics:
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
Celtics have carefully ordered transactions (waiting on David Lee trade) & it enables taking players like Perry Jones & Z. Dragic for free.— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 27, 2015
Zoran has one year guaranteed left on his contract, for $1.5 million for 2015-16.
ESPN says Heat also gave Boston a 2nd rounder to take Zoran off its books. Miami gets heavily-protected 2nd rounder it might never get.— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 27, 2015
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
Celtics now up to 17 guaranteed contracts, but can stomach cost of cuts to add picks. Boston can always maneuver more closer to season.— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) July 27, 2015
Like the Perry Jones deal, the Celtics would collect (yet another) 2nd round pick and potentially get a look at another player in camp.— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 27, 2015
This deal was originally reported on twitter by the Dan Le Batard Show:
Zoran Dragic had been traded to Boston. Heat really like Richardson. Goran is fine with it. Zoran wants playing time.
— Dan Le Batard Show (@LeBatardShow) July 27, 2015
Not sure how Zoran gets any more playing time with the Celtics, though (or even makes the roster). The 26-year-old 6'5" two-guard likely falls somewhere behind R.J. Hunter and James Young on the shooting-guards-riding-the-bench-and-fighting-for-minutes/maybe-ending-up-in-the-D-League depth chart in Boston.
UPDATE:
A league source says the Heat agreed to pay Zoran Dragic's salary next season and that the Celtics intend to waive him.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 27, 2015
Have been told Celtics might yet try to trade Dragic rather than merely waive him. His future, however, is not in Boston.— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 27, 2015
Photo via NBA.com.
Follow Mark Vandeusen on Twitter @LucidSportsFan
