Heat acquire Goran Dragic from Suns in three-team trade
The Phoenix Suns have traded Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat as part of a three-team deal, the team announced Thursday. ESPN's Marc Stein first reported Dragic was headed to Miami.
In the deal, the Heat also acquire Dragic's brother, Zoran, from the Suns. Miami is sending two first-round picks and forward Danny Granger to Phoenix and trading Shawne Williams and guard Norris Cole to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are sending guard-forward John Salmons to the Suns. Center Justin Hamilton will also leave Miami for one of the two teams.
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Dragic requested a trade from the Suns after he informed the team he would not re-sign with it in the offseason. The Heat were on a list of teams, along with New York and Los Angeles, that Dragic had said he would re-sign.
Miami will acquire Dragic's Bird rights in the trade, allowing it to offer an extra year and more money when his contract expires. Dragic, the 2013-2014 Most Improved Player, was averaging over 16 points and four assists a game for Phoenix.
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The Pelicans are expected to buy out Williams, making him a free agent. Williams is shooting 39.5 percent from three-point range this season.
The Suns are currently eighth in the West at 29-25, while the Heat are eighth in the East at 22-30. New Orleans is 1.5 games behind Phoenix at 27-26.
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