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Apparently, Pat Riley thinks Goran Dragic is the man to turn this Heat season around. According to numerous reports, the Miami Heat has traded Shawne Williams, Justin Hamilton, Danny Granger, and two first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for the Slovenian star. Norris Cole was shipped to New Orleans in a separate deal for John Salmons.
Update: The Heat has also obtained Goran’s brother, Zoran, which is sort of like signing Kourtney to get Kim, but oh well.
With a 22-30 record, the post-LeBron Heat is far from guaranteed a spot in this year’s playoffs. However, the team supposedly has the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.
There were rumors, though, that the Heat might deal Hassan Whiteside or Luol Deng before today’s trade deadline, it appears that now Dragic will join them, along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, to form the core of the team going forward for the rest of the season.
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Dragic reportedly let the Suns know he wanted off the team and would not re-sign with Phoenix over the offseason. He’ll now try to seek a five-year deal with the Heat worth more than $100 million in time for next season. He’s been averaging 20.3 points and 5.9 assists a game this year.
Of course, Heat fans will miss Norris Cole, who charmed us with his flattop and occasional feats of basketball genius. Phoenix, by the way, dealt Cole to the Pelicans, so we won’t be seeing him in desert wear.
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