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[USA Today] Goran Dragic tells Suns he won't re-sign after season

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by jaychi, Feb 17, 2015.

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  1. jaychi

    jaychi Member

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    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/02/17/goran-dragic-suns/23591221/

    Goran Dragic wants out of Phoenix.

    According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the representatives for the Suns point guard told team officials in a Tuesday meeting that he has no plans to re-sign in Phoenix this summer as a free agent.

    With the Thursday trade deadline looming and the clear message now sent that Dragic plans on playing elsewhere next season, it remains to be seen if Suns general manager Ryan McDonough will succumb to the pressure and agree to a deal. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

    Coming off a career year in 2013-14 with 20.3 points, 5.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 35.1 minutes per game while playing alongside Eric Bledsoe, Dragic has seen his role decreased by the addition of point guard Isaiah Thomas via free agency last summer.

    The three-point-guard approach has worked well for Phoenix (29-25) at times, but the Suns lost seven of their past 10 games entering the All-Star break and Dragic appears ready to move on.

    The main issue, according to one of the people, is that Dragic wants to run his own team with the kind of freedom and support given to someone like Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. The decrease in production this season, as he sees it, is directly tied to the decrease in time spent as the lead-guard with the host of ballhandlers that surround him. Dragic is averaging 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 33.4 minutes per game this season.

    While the Suns could trade Thomas as a way to relieve the obvious pressure in this point guard dynamic, it appears that Dragic does not want to return even if a move like that was made. The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are known to be among the teams pursuing him, and that list of serious suitors is believed to be seven or eight teams long.

    Any team that trades for Dragic would certainly want to know whether he's willing to sign with them this summer before doing a deal, as the prospect of giving up the necessary assets only to lose him in the summertime is certainly not tenable. Dragic, who is represented by BDA Sports Management, would strongly prefer to play for a playoff contender.



    Playoff contender = Houston Rockets = Ding ding ding!
     
    #1 jaychi, Feb 17, 2015
    1 person likes this.
  2. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Woj was Phoenix's mouthpiece the last day or so as the Suns were doing a little advertising of a false position of strength. This news changes the game.
     
    #2 Clutch, Feb 17, 2015
    1 person likes this.
  3. thenight11

    thenight11 Member

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    Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 1m1 minute ago
    ESPN sources say Rockets -- for all their well-known interest in Dragic -- are NOT a team likely to secure long-term commitment from the PG
    0 replies 9 retweets 2 favorites
    Reply Retweeted9 Favorited2
    More
     
    #3 thenight11, Feb 17, 2015
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  4. kakaman

    kakaman Member

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    Why would Goran come to Houston when James Harden will have the ball 80% of the time? He wants to BE James Harden on a team.
     
    #4 kakaman, Feb 17, 2015
  5. htownrox1

    htownrox1 Member

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    Hold on to your butts.
     
    #5 htownrox1, Feb 17, 2015
  6. aumate

    aumate Member

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    Seems he wants to run a team. Not sure how'd that work with Harden.
     
    #6 aumate, Feb 17, 2015
  7. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ESPN sources say Rockets -- for all their well-known interest in Dragic -- are NOT a team likely to secure long-term commitment from the PG</p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/567888194924072960">February 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dragic, I'm told, prefers Lakers and other situations to Houston, which means Rockets would be risking lots to surrender assets for him now</p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/567888836598054912">February 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
     
    #7 burnshroom, Feb 17, 2015
  8. CantBeRight

    CantBeRight Member

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    First page!
     
    #8 CantBeRight, Feb 17, 2015
  9. Visagial

    Visagial Contributing Member

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    He and his agent are smart enough to know at Morey isn't paying him a max deal this summer.
     
    #9 Visagial, Feb 17, 2015
  10. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    Not sure I am believing Stein though. It could just be me.
     
    #10 burnshroom, Feb 17, 2015
  11. MystikArkitect

    MystikArkitect Member

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    This news essentially destroys their bargaining position. So much for that future all star + first rounder stuff.

    Would Dragic like playing w Harden though?
     
    #11 MystikArkitect, Feb 17, 2015
  12. BigggReddd

    BigggReddd Member

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    Itshappening.gif
     
    #12 BigggReddd, Feb 17, 2015
  13. haydenfisher342

    haydenfisher342 Member

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    since when does any "insider" espn or what ever come out saying Houston or giving Houston love? Everyone hates Houston.
     
    #13 haydenfisher342, Feb 17, 2015
  14. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    Lakers don't have as much to offer as Rockets, to be sure. But will Rockets give up as much knowing Phoenix is being the 8 ball and also that Dragic may not re-up in FA.

    But if Dragic does get traded to a team he doesn't prefer, he will be giving up that 5th year bird money too.
     
    #14 burnshroom, Feb 17, 2015
  15. SportsWorld

    SportsWorld Member

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    Woj just said it
     
    #15 SportsWorld, Feb 17, 2015
  16. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks are among preferred destinations for Goran Dragic, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.</p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/567889139330334720">February 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
     
    #16 burnshroom, Feb 17, 2015
  17. burnshroom

    burnshroom Member

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    Also makes me wonder if this list if Dragic preference or Dragic' agent preference. Lakers, Knicks are high profile teams with cap space to spend. Neither are likely in a position to win right now. Even with Dragic. IMO.
     
    #17 burnshroom, Feb 17, 2015
  18. batkins

    batkins Contributing Member

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    Sounds like he's after max money.
     
    #18 batkins, Feb 17, 2015
  19. JazzLakerHater

    JazzLakerHater Member

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    Yeah, ok Dragic, go enjoy playing for some loser team lol.
     
    #19 JazzLakerHater, Feb 17, 2015
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  20. jump shooter

    jump shooter Contributing Member

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    They were never going to get a future all star plus a 1st rounder for him even he we're publicly saying he was going to re-up with them.
     
    #20 jump shooter, Feb 17, 2015
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