The Miami Mafia Is Back!

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

Thirty-nine players move in the busiest NBA Trade Deadline in 25 years but, the biggest surprise was how one team seemed to tame a "dragon".

Goran "Dragon" Dragic was the dragon obtained in the trade. The disgruntle point guard no longer wanted to play in Phoenix. As a result, the Phoenix Suns traded Dragic and his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat for Danny Granger, a 2017 1st-round pick, a 2021 1st-round pick and John Salmons from New Orleans who they plan on waiving. New Orleans who was apart of this three-team trade received Norris Cole, Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton.

"I don't trust them anymore." said Dragic after his Wednesday practice in Phoenix.

Dragic was unhappy with his role as a spot-up shooter in the Phoenix offense. Dragic wanted to go to Miami, New York or Los Angeles and Miami was his No. 1 choice. Dragic who was All-NBA Third Team avg. a career-high 20.3 ppg and 5.9 apg for an injury plagued Suns team who barely missed the playoffs with a 48-34 record last season. Dragic a wizard with the ball and a great finisher will be asked to play with the same pace and fluidity he did last season and in some of his games this season.

Dragic who is averaging 16.2 ppg 4.1 apg and 3.6 rpg upgrades the point guard position for the Heat. The Heat are last in the league in pace, 28th in ppg only avg. 92.8 pts, 29th in apg with 20.1 asts and 18th in three-point percentage. Dragic who leads all guards in field goal percentage in the restricted area shooting 71% which is higher than LeBron James. Dragic also is 2nd among all guards in field-goal percentage shooting 50.1% and he also shoots 35.5% from 3-pt range.

Chris Bosh recently was hospitalized due to a possible blood clot on his lungs which would end his NBA season. Precaution is necessary especially with the recent death of NBA veteran Jerome Kersey who played in the league for 15 years, died from similar complications. Now more than ever the Heat need Dragic's production.


At 23-30 and 7th in the East, Miami looks to set ablaze like an inferno. A legitimate scare to anyone in the East with a combination of experience and talent, the skill set of Dragic makes it so opposing point guards can no longer look at the Heat's starting point guard like BBQ chicken.

A healthy starting lineup of Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh and emerging young center Hassan Whiteside is arguably the best in the league. Add Mario Chalmers, Chris "Birdman" Andersen, James Ennis and Shabazz Napier off the bench and the Heat become legitimate contenders in the top heavy Eastern Conference.