Zoran Dragic to Celtics: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

Danny Ainge continued his Pokemon-like collection of guards Monday, as the Boston Celtics acquired guard Zoran Dragic from the Miami Heat in exchange for a protected second-round pick.

ESPN's Dan Le Batard first reported the move Monday morning before the Heat made it official. The selection going to Miami is "heavily protected," per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. Because the move was designed entirely to save the Heat luxury-tax costs—it'll shave off around $6 million when factoring salary and tax charges—it would probably be a surprise if that pick ever conveyed.

Monday's trade is the second cost-saving move by Miami in as many days. The team sent 2014 first-round pick Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic in exchange for another second-round pick Sunday, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

In total, the Heat eliminated roughly $3 million from their 2015-16 cap number. They are still more than $8 million above the NBA's luxury tax ($84.74 million) after those moves, so it would not be a surprise to see them stay active on the trade market. Veterans Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen have each been on the trade block since before the draft, and it's unlikely either of these moves would prohibit Miami from dumping one if the opportunity presented itself.

The Heat have until the final day of the regular season to get under the tax. Given the disappointing performances of Chalmers and Andersen last season, Miami may have to wait until a team suffers an injury and needs bench help before a trade comes about.

On paper, the move makes far less sense from Boston's perspective. The Celtics already have a glut of guards. Incumbents Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner will expect playing time, and the team added two more guards (Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter) in the first round of June's draft.

Even if Hunter spends most of his rookie season in the D-League, that's no fewer than five guards already expecting playing time. That also doesn't account for James Young, the second-year shooting guard, whom many liked coming out of Kentucky.

CBS Sports' Jared Dubin highlighted the strange roster construction:

Dragic, the younger brother of Goran Dragic, hasn't done much to move the NBA needle, either. He averaged 1.8 points and 0.5 rebounds in 16 appearances as a 25-year-old rookie. The pick protection here is probably such that it doesn't matter, but it's not exactly clear what the Celtics saw that would make them help Miami lessen its tax costs.

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