Heat Make It Official, Sign Dragic To $85 Million Contract
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Heat and free-agent Goran Dragic announced last week that they had come to terms on a new deal that would keep the 29-year-old guard in South Florida for the next five years.
The new contract could not be officially signed until Thursday, when the one-week free-agent negotiating period ended.
That's exactly what's happened as the Heat announced that they have signed Dragic to the 5-year deal worth $85 million that was initially reported last week, although originally the contract was said to be worth $90 million.
Heat president Pat Riley made it clear that he really wanted to acquire Dragic last season, giving up a pair of first round picks and a handful of players in the trade-deadline deal.
"When we traded for Goran last season, we knew he was the type of player and person that we wanted to be part of our Heat culture," Riley said in a statement released by the team. "His pace, ability and vision for the game is the perfect complement to lead our team as we look to bring another championship to Miami. We are pleased he has re-signed and will wear the Heat uniform for years to come and make Miami his home."
Last season Dragic averaged 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50.1 percent from the field. He finished the year with career highs in offensive, defensive and total rebounds and had 27 games in which he scored at least 20 points.
Dragic will be Miami's starting point guard, joining a lineup that includes Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside.
The Heat also released a statement regarding the status of guard Tyler Johnson, who was injured in a collision during Miami's summer league game on Wednesday night.
"Tyler Johnson suffered a fractured jaw during the third quarter of last night's Summer League game. He is returning to Miami today to be re-evaluated by Heat oral surgeon Dr. Larry Brown. He is expected to miss the remainder of Summer League."
Johnson played in 32 games for the Heat last season, averaging 5.9 points on 41.9 percent shooting in 18.8 minutes per game.
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