Right away, Miami Heat fans won’t be happy about this move. Not only would they be downgrading from Goran Dragić to Jeff Teague, but Rodney McGruder is a fan-favorite.
Gorgui Dieng is a cap filler and the 2020 unprotected first round pick is really the cherry on top for Miami in this deal. If Towns doesn’t sign his extension and Jimmy Butler leaves, that Timberwolves pick could be extremely high.
In the current cap climate, draft picks are essentially gold.
The Miami Heat get a pretty well-rounded point guard out of Jeff Teague and will be getting Dion Waiters back from injury this season, therefore the move balances the roster out a bit more but still falls short from what it was last season.
Unless, of course, Dwyane Wade comes back this season which would altar the future of the roster.
The Heat also get Rodney McGruder who essentially is a utility knife from the guard to forward slots, he plays well rounded basketball and can fill in for an Andrew Wiggins at times during games.
Losing Dragić’s ability to score the ball at will near the rim or hit close to 40 percent of his 3’s will definitely sting. But the sting may be the closest answer the Heat have if the All-Star guard decides to want more money two summers from now.