Should Miami Heat keep Goran Dragic this season because of Anthony Davis?

Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul didn’t pan out for the Miami Heat, but Anthony Davis might be a consolation prize in the summer of 2020.

Recently Davis had an interview with Rachel Nichols where he didn’t commit to picking up his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“If I don’t win the championship, then that season was not a success.

“Honestly, Rachel, I’m just focused on this season. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have one year here, so I’m going make the best of this year.”

Those statements don’t sound like the Lakers are a lock to keep Davis after this season.

Besides his championship aspirations, having LeBron James, Rajon Rondo, and DeMarcus Cousins all as teammates, the locker room might provide a combustible mixture for him during the long season.

If the Heat have any plans towards making waves in 2020 free agency, then the expiring contracts of Goran Dragic and Meyers Leonard are a valuable beginning, with $30.5M freed cap space, along with necessary trades to create enough room for next summer.

While the talk of Bradley Beal in Miami gets a lot of attention, Pat Riley likes former University of Kentucky players.

Hooking up Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro with former Wildcat Davis might have a certain appeal with Univ. of Kentucky alumni in the front office.

Jimmy Butler was an important first move in Miami’s version of a rebuild on the fly.

The second step might come from seeing which signings from 2017 can justify their contracts and generate an internal upgrade for the team.

Maybe Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk become too good to move, or so good that other teams will view their contracts as attractive ones enough for a deal to create more cap room in Miami.

For the third step, hopefully Justise Winslow, Derrick Jones Jr., Kendrick Nunn, 19-year-old Herro , 20-year-old KZ Okpala can blossom and put Miami on the map as a young and talented squad.

In sum, if the Miami Heat, as currently built, can massively exceed expectations this season, then important free agents might take notice over the course of time.

Not signing aging stars, and keeping short-term contracts on the books, may be the best plan in order to keep all avenues open for interesting opportunities should they arise.