Now it’s time to turn the page and look towards the future, hoping to get the job done next year. In order to do that, Pat Riley is working to get a deal done for Damian Lillard, who reportedly wants to chase his first ring in South Florida.

However, trade talks with the Portland Trail Blazers don’t look easy, and negotiations could drag on for months. In the meantime, the Heat are believed to be working on the return of a former player.

Rumor: Heat in conversations with Goran Dragic

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Miami Heat have already held conversations with Goran Dragic‘s camp over a potential return of the guard to South Beach:

“There have been conversations between the Heat and the representation for free agent guard Goran Dragic, who would welcome a return to the team. Any Heat decision on Dragic likely would come later in the summer.”

Dragic wants to return to Miami

In an interview with Slovenian outlet Siol.net, the 37-year-old free agent admitted he would love to return to the Heat, where he became a fan favorite between 2015 and 2021:

“The main desire is to return to Miami. … Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. … We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see.”

Dragic was one of the few bright spots for the Heat in many difficult years and even contributed to their trip to the 2020 NBA Finals. Things haven’t been the same for the Dragon since he left, which is why it makes sense he wants to go back to Miami.

Erik Spoelstra’s team pulled off a shock by making the Finals as a No. 8 seed, but it eventually fell short from the ultimate glory. In the end, Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets proved to be far superior to all their opponents.

Either way, Miami seems to be in a really good spot right now. While Damian Lillard looks interested in taking his talents to South Florida, a former Heat player also admitted he wants to go back to the 305.

Goran Dragic says he wants to return to the Heat

In an interview with Slovenian outlet Siol.net, Goran Dragic revealed he wants to return to the Miami Heat this offseason. The 37-year-old spent seven years with the team between 2015 and 2021, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 2020:

“The main desire is to return to Miami. … Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. … We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see.

“I’m at home in Miami, both my children are there, they go to school there. Everything fits perfectly. I had the best seven years of my career there and I think that coming back to Miami would be the icing on the cake. It would be something really great. But we will see.”

Dragic made a great impression during his time in South Beach. He had to put the team on his back for many years until the team improved the roster by landing players of Butler’s caliber.

Nothing has been the same for the guard since he left Miami, having spent time with the Raptors, Nets, Bulls, and Bucks in the last few years. Now he’s a free agent again, and his desire is to return ‘home.’

Miami sent him to Toronto as part of a trade to acquire Kyle Lowry, but he struggled to find with the Raptors the success he had in South Beach. Therefore, Dragic was later traded to the Spurs but would get a buyout just a few days later.

His stint with the Nets wouldn’t last long either, as he eventually signed a one-year deal with the Bulls. Inan interview with Slovenian outlet Vecer, Dragic opened up on his time in Brooklyn, while he also revealed why he didn’t join Slovenian teammate Luka Doncic at the Mavericks.

Goran Dragic explains why he chose Bulls over Mavs

People expected Dragic to join forces with his compatriot in Dallas, but he didn’t seem to like what plans the team had for him. Apparently, the Mavs offered him limited playing time.

“We were in talks with Dallas,” Dragic said, as translated by Slovenian podcaster Matej Petek on Twitter. “They made an offer but I decided not to take it. They wanted me to play 1 game and then sit for the next 5. I know I can still easily play 20 minutes per game. I’m not ready to retire and just sit on the bench in a cheerleading role.”

Dragic comes from a disappointing tenure with the Nets, who are now in shambles after Kevin Durant requested a trade. Speaking about his short stint in Brooklyn, Dragic admitted it was difficult to play in a team headlined by KD and Kyrie Irving. “It was quite hard, because it wasn’t about the team, but more about individual performances,” Dragic said, via LegionHoops.

As it usually happens, there’s a point in the season when struggling teams pretty much wave the white flag, give up, and start focusing on next year. That’s when their few good players become available for a trade.

With that in mind, and with teams that were supposed to contend but have struggled to keep up with those expectations, let’s take a look at Russell Westbrook and 5 stars that could be traded at some point in the season.

NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Stars That Could Be Traded Soon

5. Kevin Love

Season Stats: 10.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 37.6% FG

It’s been a while since Kevin Love played like an All-Star but he’s already proven that, when healthy, he can be a valuable asset on a championship contender. The Cleveland Cavaliers got off to an impressive start to the season but that’s unsustainable with Collin Sexton out for the year.

Love has been linked to multiple teams in the past but moving his big contract could be tricky. He’s expected to be bought out if the Cavs can’t find a trade suitor.

4. Goran Dragic

Season Stats: 8.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 38.2% FG

Goran Dragic made it clear since day 1 that he had “bigger aspirations” than playing for a rebuilding Toronto Raptors team. Those comments didn’t sit well with their fanbase and he’s just not needed there.

The Raptors allowed him to be away from the team for “personal reasons” but we weren’t born yesterday. He doesn’t want to be there and multiple teams should be interested in his services.

3. Marcus Smart

Season Stats: 11.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.7 APG, 39.0% FG

Marcus Smart has been the odd man out on the Boston Celtics’ core for quite some time now. He’s been tangled up in trade talks for years now, and with his team struggling to keep up in the East, his time may have come.

Smart called out Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and it seems like he’ll always want a bigger role than what the team is willing to give him. He’ll be sought-after for his top-notch defense.

2. Buddy Hield

Season Stats: 17.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 39.7% FG

Buddy Hield was pretty close to joining the Los Angeles Lakers before they traded for Russell Westbrook. He has stated not to be fully comfortable with the Sacramento Kings and has already outgrown them.

Hield is one of the best sharpshooters in the league right now and the Kings are drifting with no clear direction, as per usual. He’s one of the few players that they could and should trade.

1. Russell Westbrook

Season Stats: 20.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 8.7 APG, 44.6% FG

This might seem like a long shot, mostly because of Russell Westbrook’s massive contract. Then again, no one can deny that he’s made the Los Angeles Lakers worse, not better. And that might not change with time.

Westbrook is an incredible player but he’s just not a good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers don’t need another star, they need more role players.

That trade sent promising big man Precious Achiuwa up north, along with veteran guard Goran Dragic. Dragic had been instrumental for the Heat over the past 4 years or so but at age 35 and constantly dealing with injuries, it was clear that they needed an upgrade.

Nonetheless, it seems like the Slovenian isn’t exactly looking forward to playing in Canada, as he recently said some disrespectful comments that infuriated Raptors fans even before he got to try the jersey on.

Goran Dragic Says The Raptors Aren’t Good Enough For Him, Then Apologies

“Toronto is not my preferred destination, I have higherambitions, we’ll see,” the lefty guard told Slovenian television. Then, when it all blew up in his face, he tried to make amends with the fans he’s yet to play in front of.

“My message basically, to all Toronto fans, is I would like to apologize. It didn’t come out the right way. I know they love their team, and they should be proud, it is one of the best organizations in the NBA. They’ve already won a championship and I didn’t, so what I said, it really was not appropriate,” said Dragic.

Raptors Fans Blast Dragic Over His Comments

Obviously, those comments didn’t sit well with Toronto Raptors fans and they didn’t buy that apology either. That’s why they immediately took to social media to let him have a piece of their mind.

The truth is that the Raptors are going through a rebuild, so the sign-and-trade was about Achiuwa, not Dragic. Dragic and the Raptors have been to the NBA Finals as many times in their careers, the only difference being that the Raptors actually won.

Dragic is getting paid above his market value just to make numbers work on that sign-and-trade with Lowry. He’s 35 and injury-prone. So maybe, he should mince his words when talking about his ambitions.