Boston Celtics Trade for Zoran Dragic

In one of the least exciting transactions of the off season the Boston Celtics have acquired Zoran Dragic from the Miami Heat. The Celtics will likely be giving nothing up in this trade as Miami’s return is an extremely well protected second round draft pick. The Celtics are also getting cash to help cover Zoran’s salary and a 2020 second round draft pick.

This trade may not appear to be much but with absolutely no risk involved the Celtics add another option to their team. While Dragic was stuck with next to no minutes with the Heat he will have a much better opportunity to have a larger role with the Celtics. The Celtics are so young and have so many question marks surrounding their roster that Dragic will, at the very least, be able to prove to the Celtics that he is worthy of a spot.

Apr 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Heat guard Zoran Dragic (12) dunks the ball past the block attempt of Philadelphia 76ers forward Thomas Robinson (41) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Heat won 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

It is pretty remarkable that the Celtics have added yet another guard and looking strictly at his NBA stats it is almost impossible to know what Zoran can bring. He has never been given a good enough of an opportunity to fully show case what he is capable of. Zoran is still a young enough player that he can develop and maybe one day be an NBA contributor.

Even though it is hard to see a scenario were Dragic becomes an important piece of the Celtics, this trade is an automatic win for them. Even if they do wind up losing the highly protected second round draft pick they are getting another in return in 2020.

The Celtics know that they will be getting that extra draft pick, even if it is five years down the line and that alone makes this a great deal for Boston.

A lot of you may be wondering why the Heat would even do this trade. They clearly do not want Zoran on the team but why throw away cash and a future draft pick to lose him. The Heat did a similar move that sent Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic and both those moves are attempts to take money off the books.

Feb 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Shabazz Napier (13) reacts against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 93-90 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Zoran’s salary is just under $2 million per year and given the Celtics’ situation they have no problem taking that on. The Celtics are one of the youngest and one of the cheapest teams in the league and even if Zoran may not be worth his contract they get to see yet another guard and they get a future draft pick.

With no risk there is nothing to be upset with regarding this trade from the Celtics’ perspective. They only gained from this trade and even if it is unlikely to have a large impact on the team they lose nothing by giving a young player his first opportunity to have a true role on a team.

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