Simple.........because they aren't in a position to compete. Look at when the 76ers traded Jrue Holiday for Nerlens Noel and NOPs 2014 1st. Why did they do it? Because they weren't anywhere near competing and Jrue wasn't a superstar. Dragic is worth less now than Jrue Holiday was at the time of that trade. Jrue had just come off an all-star apperance, was 23 years old, and he was locked into a 4 year contract. In comparison, Dragic is 28, has not made an all-star game (though he did make 3rd team all-NBA), and is on the last year of his contract.
I don't see the Suns letting go Bledsoe for nothing(Jones and a pelicans pick) and I don't see them being afraid to lose Dragic. I feel like they're going to lock up Bledsoe long term this week and next season they will just re-sign Dragic using his bird rights. 35 million or whatever number you guys are making up seems like a lot, but in 2016 when the cap increases it's going to seem like a bargain lol. The Suns organization isn't incompetent. They've been building pretty well.
No doubt they've been building well, but you have to take into account how you will eventually compete for a championship. No major free agent will ever sign with the suns outright, that is just an unfortunate truth they have to accept. This is coming from someone that has been to phoenix and liked it a lot. The only way the suns will compete is to trade/draft their next star to team up with bledsoe. It's just the way it is, that's why tanking will never be eliminated. Small market teams have to draft their next star or they have no chance.
Bledsoe will make 13 million at the least if I had to guess, on top of Isaiah's cap number, while also maxing Dragic. That would bring them in to the mid thirties minimum. They are letting Dragic or Bledsoe go. You are thinking too much in to it.
$35 million tied up in 3 players, none of which are top 20 (or perhaps even 30)players, is a lot. Moreso when you consider their needs at SF, PF, and Center. They can bring up the Morris twins and Plumlee all they want.......none have star/difference maker potential. The NOP 1st, Capela, and a 2nd is way better than just having a shot at the 8th seed and then losing Dragic next year in free agency. That NOP 1st pick gives them 4 next year, which allows them to keep Bledsoe and trade up in the draft for a true difference maker, or take the shotgun approach and draft a ton of guys hoping 2 will become something significant (similar to the 76ers, but without the need for tanking). Capela has potential at a position of need. They don't need more Plumlees and Morris'...they need high risk/reward type players.
KingDrew says wait for Saturday. Shaun11 says something is brewing soon. Moves are going to be a lot slower, if they even happen, now that there is no pressure on anyone to scrounge together a deal quickly.
I'm completely with you. I've said something similar in other posts (except instead of trading for them now I was assuming if no trades get done then we go for both of them in free agency. I think that's a championship squad. I would not include Bev in the trade but would trade the others. I think Dragic, Milsap and Ariza would more than equal a third star. If we don't get them via trade or use up our cap space before then, targeting Dragic and Milsap next summer with cap space and a sign and trade (you do a sign and trade with the first team of PHO or ATL that blinks). You lose fewer assets next year, but you'd have to wait a year... In any case what you're suggesting (or what I suggested) are but two of the possibilities Morey was referring to as the reason why they did not match Chandler.
These last two off-seasons have presented an unrealistic expectation. The Dwight Howard thread was about as EPIC as it gets, and now, this offseason has ran aground. Joey Dorsey and Trevor Ariza......no.....I refuse to believe it was Hinkie all ALONG!!!!
Bottom line for me is: If we can acquire Dragic (or Bledsoe on a 4/50 deal) and still have either the Pelies or the Lakers pick and DMo Or If we could acquire Paul Millsap without giving up the Pelies pick and Bev/Canaan then I think we will have hita home run.
It's not that I think Dallas are favorites, but I would just trust them more in a playoff series than our team. Just an opinion. I think Dirk can still be close to top 5 in the playoffs, not so much during regular season
