From Jonathan Feigen's chat session http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/02/live-chat-with-jonathan-feigen-at-1-p-m/ Here are some of the replies. It's worth reading through the entire chat, imo.
trade dragic for a rotational player? no thank you, dragic is already that. Just the thought of Flynn running the point for even 10 minutes scares me.
Dragic will be expiring, probably will be overpaid which rox will not want to match. A kaman an vasquez trade would be sweet, we would get a capable center with a large expiring contract with a nice long term back up point.
You have to deal Dragic. I could almost see if getting a contract BIGGER than Lowry on the open market.
My guess the reason is that Dragic is an upcoming UNRESTRICTED free agent, which means you have a good chance of losing him because some team may pay him starter money to be a starter and the Rockets have no chance of matching it like they did to keep Lowry. So, if you can get similar talent back but with a player who has a couple more years left on the contract (at a reasonable price) or someone on a rookie deal who will become an RESTRICTED free agent later, it makes sense to make such a trade. Their other significant upcoming FA, by the way, is Courtney Lee and he's going to be restricted, which gives the Rockets the ability to match (and the restriction will also likely lower the $ amount of competing offers).
We are in the golden age of PGs right now, Dragic as a starter is a bit overblown around here. Of all 5 positions, I'd say it's the cheapest to fill right now.
Maybe, but it remains that there are teams who need a starting PG-- and will be willing to pay Dragic at something between, say, $3.5 mil and the mid-level along with promise of competing for starters minute. Dragic would have the incentive to go to such a team, too, even if the Rockets offer similar money because minutes = future earning potential. For example, the Lakers, if they don't trade for a PG this season, can certainly use him. Same goes with the Blazers and the Jazz.
Anyone think the Blazers would be shopping Batum or maybe we can take D-Will from Minny and fillers for Kevin Martin. I doubt anything spectacular comes from this deadline as JF does.
I think your assessment is pretty dead on as to what Dragic could expect to be offered; the idea of him seeing more than Lowry is ridiculous. Besides, no love for Devin Harris? I look at it this way, not even the Bobcats or Raptors need a PG.
Each of Devin Harris, Jose Calderon, and the Bobcat PGs are easier competition for minutes than Kyle Lowry.
