I don't know -- why not just trade for Dragic directly now, he fits into the trade exception? Plus, we'd have to give up assets to get Afflalo from the Nuggets, assets we would then no longer have to sweeten the Afflalo for Dragic deal. And, another also, why wouldn't the Suns just trade Dragic directly to the Nuggets for Afflalo, if the Suns value Afflalo more than saving money and future picks? I really want the Dragic trade to go through. I'd love to see the trigger on that get pulled, with the Rockets using the trade exception to absorb Dragic, and then sending the Suns Canaan, the NO pick and whatever other non essential personnel that PHX may want.
Isaiah Thomas will be moved before the Suns let Dragic go. Don't see why people think Dragic is going anywhere. He's the face of their franchise.
Maybe a PF. With Howard's knee it might be smart. Millsap is an obvious one. Celtics, nets and Knicks seem to be having problems but all of those ayers are overpaid.
I'll agree that Thomas is more "expendable" than Dragic in terms of cornerstones but Phoenix will have to aim higher than Goran Dragic as the face of their franchise if they want to be relevant in the West anytime soon.
I believe Isaiah was getting more minutes than him prior to the injury. It was enough of a story that Dragic was asked about it and he answered with something like... as long as the team is winning. Isaiah is making a little more than $6M per while Dragic will be asking for the moon on his next contract. It would be harder to understand PHX signing Dragic to a max contract to only have him play less minutes that Thomas. This is what gives fans hope that we can acquire him.
I'm not so sure about that. I mean, if I were them, heck yeah, that would definitely be the case. But that organization makes strange decisions sometimes based on money and... craziness. I am certainly not predicting the Suns trade Dragic, and I think the Suns would be dumb to do so -- still, I do indeed hope it happens.
Completely agree. But as it stands today, Dragic is their guy. He's their most accomplished player and biggest draw at the gate.
The only commitment they've made to him was signing his brother to a contract. Other than that, they've done nothing else to say "Goran, we want you to stay until you can't play any longer" 1. Signed Thomas as an insurance in case Bledsoe left...who also could be an insurance in case Dragic needs to be dealt. 2. Used the 18th pick on Tyler Ennis, another point guard. 3. Suns coaching staff has been giving steady minutes to Thomas, forcing Bledsoe and Dragic to see their PT dwindle. I'm sure they'd like to keep Dragic but with a maxed-out Bledsoe, an 18th pick rookie point guard, and a cheap player in Thomas, I don't see an incentive in keeping Dragic unless he's elite which is clearly isn't.
Sure doesn't feel like Goran is the face of the franchise when I watch their games. I'd say Bledsoe is initiating around 80-90% of the time when he and Goran are on the floor together. Goran runs over to the corner and waits on the action out top. Only an occasional possession here and there when Bledsoe wants a possession off do they switch with Goran running from the top.
Actually the Suns have made Bledsoe thee the face of the franchise. Thomas isn't going anywhere since they just signed him. They've been kissing Bledsoe's ass all season(he did just sign an extension). They've benched Dragic in crunch time allowing Thomas and Bledsoe to be on the court together.
Yet, if the Suns can somehow land an All-NBA front court stud for Dragic, then I can see him being moved at the trade deadline. That's the type of value the Suns would be looking to get for Dragic. But even that's very doubtful given Dragic's age and contract status. Ultimately, they can package Thomas, Green, a Morris twin and a 1st rounder for a legitimate low post threat, rebounder and rim protector. Or if they're serious about contending they could offer Bledsoe and fillers in a blockbuster, multi-team deal for a proven All-NBA front court player. Bottom line: Giving away Dragic for Jones (or DMo), Pap, fillers and Pellie's pick does NOT move the needle for Phoenix. Their GM is too sharp and will look to capitalize on his return elsewhere.
Right. But we're talking about him being the "face of the franchise" for Phoenix and therefore not on the trade market because PHX is going to retain him no matter what. I'm saying when you watch their games you sure don't get that sense. What I sense and feel is that Eric Bledsoe is the face of the franchise. Bledsoe runs the offense when him and Goran are out there together and they are out there together for the bulk of their minutes on the floor. I know all 3 guys are averaging around the same amount of points but if you dig into the data you will see that Goran is usually playing the SG slot when he is in there next to either of those guys. And remember, Goran made a comment just within the last week or so indicating it's difficult when you have 3 guys that essentially play the same position....point guard. Goran wants to play point guard at least some of the time......which is more than he is playing point guard right now in Phoenix. If he were here, he'd be the second playmaker...not the third. He'd get around 12 minutes a game to run the show all to himself while Harden sits. And then he'd pick up another 8 minutes or so running the show from the top while Harden was playing. I'm pretty convinced Goran would enjoy the role he would play here much more than his current role in Phoenix. Simply because the vast majority of his minutes when he is on the floor with Bledsoe or Thomas, he's the one that goes into the off-guard slot while the other 2 initiate from the top. I'm sorry. That just doesn't speak "franchise player" to me.
Not so much. Have you watched Harden play this season? He leads the team in assists. He's more of a play maker than scorer. He scores when he has to. He and Dragic would fit nicely since Dragic can shoot the 3 off the catch and Harden is willing to let PGs try to create.
