This is going to be interesting to see how this plays out. My guess is that even if the Rockets can acquire Dragic, they may be viewing him as nothing more than a three month rental. Dragic is a free agent this summer, and I have a hard time seeing Morey giving Dragic a max contract. Someone, maybe the Lakers, will throw some big bucks at Dragic. And I feel certain that Dragic will go to the highest bidder. So, do the Rockets give up a first round pick for a three month rental? I really don't know. The Rockets know things we do not. They probably have a much better knowledge about whether Dwight will return this season, and whether he may need surgury or not. I think that all plays into whether the Rockets go all in for Dragic. Also, does Morey really view Dragic as an "elite" player? If Morey does view Dragic as elite, then Morey I think would give up the first and be willing to give Dragic the big bucks this summer. My guess is that Morey would like to acquire Dragic for the Knicks second rounder, and some bench and D-League players. I assume that the Suns would also want to package Zoran along with Goran.
Dragic would be the third player on a champsionship team especially when your fourth and fifth player are Dmo and Smith. Add Dragic to this team and an healthy Howard and we are a true contender. I really do not understand Phoenix, they had Dragic and Bledsoe, why go after Thomas?? You need help at other positions. Also when you have 3 guards why use Dragic the way they used him when he just got off an career year. Just strange.
"and a healthy Howard" is not for sure. And if a healthy howard is not for sure, what's the point of spending a 1st rounder to rent Dragic for two months? We aren't contenders without howard. I want assurances that Howard will play in the playoffs before i spend a 1st rounder on a Dragic rental.
Hoping that Dragic becomes the catalyst that fixes the Rockets' offensive lulls that has impeded the Rockets from closing out winnable games. If Phoenix is on board with a reasonable demand, Morey should bite. We should not be in the post season to make up the numbers. The Rockets' attitude should be "We're here to win the title. Don't underestimate us."
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I really don't think "rental" is part of the equation with Dragic. The Suns aren't going to trade Dragic for a 2nd and a bunch of crap. It has to be a real asset for them. Remember, the Suns aren't cheap. They gave Bledsoe $70 million. For the Suns, I don't think they're worried about Dragic leaving to LA for no compensation. They'd offer the max before allowing that to happen. And honestly, with the salary cap said to grow exponentially after the 2015-16 season and new TV revenues, it wouldn't be an awful contract for his level of play. Where the threat of a max offer from LA comes into play is in making Goran slightly less of a future trade asset, by virtue of PHX's presumably higher bid to keep him. For the Suns, the equation is this: which side has the better asset(s) to eventually flip for a disgruntled star, like Houston's 2012 trade for Harden? Is it Dragic on a max deal, or what's behind Door #2 -- i.e. the Pelicans pick, K-Pap, Capela, whatever the package may be? I feel confident in saying that if what's behind Door #2 is a 2nd round pick and random filler, they'd just hold onto Dragic and wait for a more lucrative deal down the line. I think the Suns' asking price is fairly well known and understandable. So for the Rockets, I don't think they enter these negotiations unless they think Dragic can be the "third-best player on a championship team" that we know Morey has been after for quite a while. And if they do, they'll pay whatever it takes -- including the max -- to keep Dragic this summer. So "rental" isn't really a risk. To me, it comes down to one simple question -- is a core of Harden-Howard-Dragic and role players of Motiejunas/Ariza/Brewer/Smith/Beverley something you're willing to lock yourself into for the next 2+ years? Can you legitimately win a ring with that group? I think you can, but that's all it comes down to from HOU's side, in my opinion.
Ahhhh, Plumlee. Yep, he's in my signauture too. Here's one way we could land him. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=9547223&postcount=2135
all good points, but i can't see the Rockets paying Dragic's asking price this offseason . And i think it's funny that Parsons wasn't that 3rd guy, nor was Lowry, but Dragic now is? I think if we get Dragic, it has to be about contending this year. We don't have much control over his free agency situation and no way we pay him the max. just my opinion. Again, for me, it comes down to, can we contend this year? and that comes down to, will Howard be healthy come playoff time? I think the answer to the first question is yes (with Howard and Dragic), but i don't know what the answer is to that second question ...which is everything IMHO
If they could get Dragic for K-Pap, Capella and the Pel's pick without having to include DMO or Jones I would do back flips.
Lowry might've been... he just didn't give the Rockets the opportunity. All we know is Morey didn't put Lowry quite in the tier with Anthony/Bosh, and Kyle wasn't willing to wait and see what happened. The only guy we know wasn't the 3rd guy was Parsons, and I do think Dragic is a clearly superior player to CP. Question is how much.
Dragic has been all NBA 2nd team. 20ppg and lead a team to a winning season Parsons is all Dallas 1st team, and plays a solid 4th or 5th fiddle. There is no comparison....
I think things have changed. Dmo emerging, the Brewer trade and Smith falling into our laps has made the necessity for that 3rd guy to be a little less of the type of star we were originally after.
keep cashing dem checks scoop.... you know he havent been keeping up with the league since kobe, kg, and that era of players are on their way out
I think harden is so good that having a groan dragic type 3rd star is all the rockets need. I have thought about this over and over. I think you trade for goran sign him to a 4 yr 60 mil deal, then find a way to give smith full mle and roll with that. James is going to continue to improve for the next 2-3 years. Having a player to take the load off him and create for Dwight from the opposite side of the court of harden would be huge.
That's ridiculous though. The option isn't there to wait to see if Howard will come back healthy before getting dragic. They have to make the tough decision. You want them to mail it in cuz Howard might not fully recover?
I really don't see many teams throwing the max at Dragic. Surprised people do. I think he's a stud, but what teams would shell out that money to him. No rebuilding teams. Most playoff teams have a pg. I don't think Mitch kupchak was thinking Dragic when he decided to keep the cap clear. Despite reports and rumors, I think Lakers would go younger unless they were landing another big free agent like Aldridge.
