Another aspect you guys in this "Dragic to Houston" camp are missing is if he was unhappy in PHX playing off the ball then why the hell do you think he wants to come to Houston and play off the ball with Harden? Doesn't make much sense does it?
I agree their recent string of success + acquiring wright makes it less likely the PHX FO trades dragic. At this point I give it a 5% chance. But acting like there's no way it'll ever happen is equally absurd. So many things can happen between now and the deadline and that percentage could change dramatically if they lose a bunch of games and the attitude of the players shift. Besides just because you think there's 0% chance now and by the deadline doesn't mean others assess the chances the same and therefore you can't expect people to not discuss the possibilities given the differences in views.
So if they decided to trade him what would they ask for? They have bigs so D Mo and Jones are of little use to them. The Pels pick? They will have the pick immediately adjacent to the Pels. Brewer, Papa, Shved, Terry? Don't make me laugh. What else would PHX want for their best player? I'll hang up and listen.
Well for 1) it's not that he's disgruntled playing off the ball it's he's playing out of position as a SG 2) if you look at how Bev plays now with Harden I'd say the PG handles the ball plenty and 3) how dragic feels is a major factor but just as it is with PHX FO his feelings doesn't entirely control what GM's do. Morey may very well try to pursue him even if dragic himself is unsure of the fit.
I guess you think the rockets and Suns are the only teams in the league with players then? You know it's fully possible to involve other teams in trades right?
Why would we trade anything of value without a full commitment from Dragic to resign? That would be stupid.
Side note: I had a dream last night that I found out Cyberx was Tracy McGrady. I need a break from this thread.
I asked the question: What would they look for in a trade for their best player? Draft picks mean nothing to them. Look at their roster and tell me what they need. Then find a team that can give it to them. I'll wait.
That's a valid perspective that would need to be considered in measuring the likelihood of 1) PHX's willingness to part with him 2) HOU's willingness to trade assets and 3) dragic's decision come FA. Which actually illustrates my point. No one KNOWS for certain what's going to happen and there are factors at play during this window of time that could change the likelihood of those three issues. It's not like the discussion is about trading for KD or LMA. There's absolutely no information or realities of FA that would cause anyone to have a discussion about that. You might disagree on the likelihood of the factors surrounding Dragic, but it's a little narrow minded to think others see things the same way.
Here's my answer: I've actually said this a few time but PHX wants a significant upgrade anywhere between positions 2-5 to help balance out their roster. What players are out there now or by the deadline that could want out of their current situation that would be a serious upgrade at 2-5. What team is that now or what team could fit that bill come deadline, who knows? Draymond Green for example is a RFA and who knows what GS might want to do with him or David Lee? Not saying PHX would be interested or GS be looking to move either, but there are many teams/players with situations and interests changing all the time. The nature of most every trade we see happen is that few could have seen those teams involved in trade because of rapid changing climate of the NBA and individual team situations. The point here is there is a condition of leverage for a team like PHX. This raises a "possibility"/not a certainty. But that possibility is much larger than a OKC moving KD or ATL moving Milsap......which is why there are people talking about it. I don't see why it's difficult for you to understand that's why people discuss it even if you think there's 0% chance of it happening.
Dragic doesn't want to leave Phoenix, but if Houston kept signing 2 guards and moved James out of position, he wouldn't stay in Houston when his contract comes up either. If you went to Dragic as Phoenix and asked him "what can we do to help you succeed", what do you think his answer would be?
Why would PHX want another undersized 4 on their team? There is no significant upgrade 2-5 available. They actually have pretty good players at all of those positions. They just gave the Morris boys 52 million to play the 4. Unless we trade them Harden or Dwight there is no upgrade on the market. Stop dealing in hypotheticals and deal in facts. Find someone available 2-5 who is available and is a significant upgrade over PJ Tucker, the Morris twins, Alex Len, Gerald Green, and Brandan Wright that would be worth losing Dragic for.
I think trying to guess either Phoenix or Dragic's intentions at this point is useless. Of course Dragic likes Phoenix right now. They're winning, just added a piece, look on point to making the playoffs, and he's getting numbers. But NBA can change. If the Suns continue to play well, no doubt Dragic stays and likely re-signs at the end of the year. But what if they drop back to .500 and out of the playoff race, do you really think he'll still be happy? Will the Suns really want to lock him up for 4 more years at near-max? The Rockets will get someone. That I have no doubt.
PHX is signing PGs because the 2 guard position in the NBA is weak overall. They have decided they don't want to play one. And when they do it is Gerald Green. I'm not trying to rain on y'all's parade but unless Dragic says "Trade me to Houston or I walk" he ain't coming. Just accept it. We have the team we are gonna have. Let's develop chemistry and stop worrying about dumb trades. We are in 1st place and have a chance to stay there with the current roster as is. I thought our biggest need was a defensive 4 that could play in the event D Mo and Jones went in the tank in the playoffs. Josh Smith comes and problem solved.
Goodness you're dense. I don't have facts like you don't have facts. The point in discussing hypotheticals is because no one KNOWS anything for certain. GM's don't even know. Who knew harden would be available and traded to us? OKC was in a leveraged situation and plenty on here said, "no way they trade him", "why would they.....he's restricted and they can match", "why would they take a pick, expirings and unproven rookies when they're obviously trying to contend?". Morey himself said he didn't think they would. But here we are.....
Well I hate to rain on your parade but Morey is going to trade for someone. He is not going to sit on that Pelicans pick and just use it. It's going out for someone, maybe not Dragic but the Rockets are going to pick up another piece somewhere. There is little doubt to that.
You say playoff race like they are capable of getting any thing more than an 8th seed. That's as good as it gets this year and the foreseeable future. Who said Dragic wants to compete for rings? Maybe he's happy as a starter living in a city he's comfortable in. It really depends on Dragic as a person, not phoenix because they are what we thought they are. This season and down the road.
Maybe he is. I'm simply going by the assumption that all players want to make money and win. You are right that perhaps Dragic is not that player. If so, then Dragic will ask for a trade-kicker and design a contract that makes himself untradeable and stay in Phoenix for the rest of his career. So from the Suns perspective then, why would they want to give big money to an untradable player who will turn 30 soon?
