A foot injury limited guard Goran Dragic to just two games during the Miami Heat’s six-game loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals last season.
Dragic seems intent on making up for his inability to contribute to Miami’s cause during the biggest series of the season. Not long after NBA free agency opened 6 p.m. Friday, Dragic tweeted that he was re-signing with the Heat as an unrestricted free agent, according to The Athletic and ESPN.
“I’m glad that I can announce that I’m staying with my #HeatNationFamily,” the 34-year-old tweeted. “Let’s finish the job we started!!!”
The deal is for two years and $37.4 million, according to The Athletic. The second year is a team option.
In six seasons with the Heat, Dragic has averaged 16.6 points and 5.3 assists per game. Last season, he averaged 16.2 points over 59 games in the regular season. He finished Miami’s playoff run averaging a career-best 19.1 points per game, second to forward Jimmy Butler (22.2) on the Heat, but Dragic was injured in Game 1 of the finals. He returned for Game 6 but he managed just five points in 19 minutes of a 106-93 series-closing Lakers’ victory.
Last week, Dragic said he was fully recovered from his plantar fascia tear and he should be ready for the start of the NBA season, which is scheduled for Dec. 22.
In addition to being a productive player off the Heat’s bench last season, Dragic was a mentor to young Miami guards Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn.
Dragic is entering his 13th NBA season and it looks like he won’t be the only member of the Eastern Conference champion Heat to return to the club. Center Meyers Leonard has agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Heat, according to ESPN.
Leonard averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season for Miami.
