The Refreshing Goran Dragic
The Dragon could have probably squeezed the Miami Heat for a nine-digit contract this summer.
After all, the 29-year-old point guard with a knack for perpetually putting pressure on the defense had some leverage. A plethora of big-market teams had cash to spend and the Heat gave up two first-round picks to acquire him at last season's trade deadline. Riley was invested and everyone knew it.
Instead, Dragic's name was never so much as tweeted in the same sentence with another team. No leaks from his camp. No games. No DeAndre Disasters.
"It was an easy decision for me," Dragic said of signing the reported five-year, $85 million contract, "because when I got traded here the first thing I wanted to see was how this organization works. The coaching staff, the players, they're really nice to me. Me and my wife and my family really feel comfortable here in Miami and then of course this organization wants to win a lot of championships and it's always there. That was one of my first goals in continuing my career -- to be somewhere where we can win."
For a player in his prime yet to land his first beefy contract, it's both fascinating and refreshing to see a player of his caliber sacrifice so much. The fact he signed a five-year deal means he can't opt out until after Year 4. This holds relevance because the NBA's salary cap is expected to engorge in the coming seasons as new TV money pours in, paving the way for players to chase short-term deals with the ability to opt out and cash in again. It's why you'll see LeBron James continue to ink max deals with the ability to opt out after one season.
If anything Goran was acting unreasonable in that he left as much as $20 million on the table. He credits his upbringing for the decision to take less.
"If I go back to my childhood I was raised like that," Dragic said. "My father and my mom raised me that money is not everything. I still got a good deal, I could get more, but it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that I'm happy. I'm happy to be here, happy to be surrounded with all the coaches, with all the players and that's what's most important in my life. I want to be happy. I don't want to miserable on the court and so I think that was the right decision."
Prioritizing both winning and happiness over dollars, the Dragon is not your standard NBA star.
Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshBaumgard
