MIAMI -- Disgruntled as a result of his diminished role in the Phoenix Suns' forced three-guard rotation, Goran Dragic desperately wanted out of Phoenix.
Disappointed in the collective development of the Heat's three underachieving point guards this season, team president Pat Riley desperately wanted in on an upgrade in Miami.
Because both Dragic and Riley got exactly what they wanted at the NBA trade deadline Thursday, the Heat get a much-needed shot in the arm to spice up their stretch run to the playoffs. But what's even more impressive than Miami addressing its biggest weakness by acquiring a playmaker who was an All-NBA selection last year was what the Heat didn't have to sacrifice to get Dragic.
Hassan Whiteside, the D-League call-up who has quickly developed into one of the best stories of the NBA season, remains intact as the Heat's center of the present and likely long-term future.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the franchise anchors who weren't going anywhere anyway, return from the All-Star break to potentially carry a bit less of a mental and physical burden.
Luol Deng, the Heat's most complete two-way perimeter player despite an inconsistent season, wasn't dealt away just seven months after Riley introduced him as one of the most important free-agent signings in franchise history.
Moving forward, that leaves the Heat with a starting unit of Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh and Whiteside as Miami looks to improve on a 22-30 record and move up from the eighth and final East playoff spot. Amid a flurry of trade deadline moves, Riley pulled off one of the biggest heists of the day by parting with two future first-round picks, likely to be mid- to late-first-rounders in 2017 and 2019, Danny Granger, Justin Hamilton, Norris Cole and Shawne Williams.
In other words, the Heat gave up a couple of players more likely to be on the inactive list than in the playing rotation, a couple of other players who were low-risk projects who didn't pan out and a pair of future draft choices who might not come due until after Riley, 69, retires.
The man is nothing if not a big-game hunter. While Dragic hardly falls into the same acquisition category as Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O'Neal, Bosh or LeBron, it's clear yet again that, considering what he got for what he gave up, Riley parlayed Big Mac ingredients into a prime rib of a playmaker.
No, the Atlanta Hawks don't look at the Heat's new-look lineup on paper in fear of a potential matchup between the Nos. 1 and 8 seeds in two months. And Toronto won't quite tremble at the possibility of having to face a reloaded and rejuvenated Heat team as a likely 2-7 matchup.
Still, Miami is a much more dangerous threat now that it no longer has to piecemeal its point guard position. They have one now who is capable of stretching the floor and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. They have one who can drastically add pep to an offense that ranked at or near the bottom of the league in pace for most of this season. They have one who can work the pick-and-roll game with Whiteside, find Bosh in his sweet spots and relieve Wade of some wear and tear from facilitating.
Even amid a relatively down season in Phoenix from where his scoring and assists numbers peaked over the previous two years, Dragic is a major upgrade over frustratingly inconsistent Mario Chalmers, erratic rookie Shabazz Napier and the slumping -- and now departed -- Cole.
But Dragic doesn't fix everything. The Heat still face plenty of questions as they attempt to jumpstart a season that fell flat after LeBron's departure in free agency last summer following four straight trips to the Finals and two championships.
Dragic will provide a boost in the backcourt, but he probably can't fix Wade's health. Wade practiced for the second consecutive day Thursday and plans to make his return from a three-week absence from a strained hamstring in Friday's game against the Knicks. Wade, the Heat's leading scorer, has already missed 17 games this season over three different stints after sitting out 28 games a year ago.
Dragic has a knack for finding open shooters in transition, but there's only so much he can do to elevate Bosh's consistent impact from an All-Star to an All-NBA level. The Heat can't afford too many more of those 17-point, four-rebound games from Bosh as the lone max-salary player on the roster.
Dragic gives the Heat their first traditional starting point guard since Jason Williams and Gary Payton manned the position during the 2006 championship season under Riley as coach. Erik Spoelstra was an assistant then but took over two years later and hasn't had the luxury of a pure point guard while at the helm. He never found an answer despite all of the shuffling between Cole, Chalmers and Napier. But Riley has delivered the Heat a front-line starter at the position, so there are no more excuses.
Ultimately, this transaction was predicated on trust.
Dragic no longer trusted Phoenix's front office and the direction the team was headed. He's on an expiring contract and demanded to be dealt to the Lakers, Knicks or Heat with hopes of working out a long-term deal as a free agent this summer.
Riley no longer trusted that this sputtering, turbulent season would ever get on track if Miami's roster remained intact. So instead of shoring up as much cap space as possible to potentially repeat his free-agency coup in 2010 with another splash in 2016, Riley struck now to strengthen Miami's playoff push.
This isn't the first time the Heat and Suns met amid desperate times.
Seven years ago, it was Miami that had the frustrated player who lost trust in the direction and wanted out. Riley dealt disgruntled Shaq to the Suns for Shawn Marion before the trade deadline in 2008. This time, the malcontent seeking a fresh start comes the Heat's way from Phoenix.
No longer forced off the ball, Dragic gets sole possession of the position he wanted.
Riley and the Heat landed the productive point guard they needed.