They'd need to get him for virtually nothing to offset what was lost to injury, losing major players to injury ends your chances, why do you think Chicago just had to accept it? Have I seen a team trade a point guard for not much because they don't want to spend 35m+ on point guards? well yeah, that's how Phoenix got Bledsoe. Have I seen a team trade a near all star pg for a draft pick because it was treading water around the 9 seed? well yeah, Houston did that not long ago. Have I seen a team lose a player to injury, so mortgage it's future to go all in on a replacement? well no, because you're better off coming back next year and going all in on things that improve you.
Not necessary, they could package the picks they own, and young high potential players, that are still developing and aren't contributing to the teams success yet. That's basically how the Rockets got Harden. A plethora of semi-valuable picks and a player who wasn't embedded into their rotation, but was perceived as a high potential player. That is if Phoenix actually wants to go that way. IMO they've got a good thing going, they should just resign him next year, and roll with the backcourt they have, while trying to consolidate other assets to get help up front.
1. La had no intention or ability to play those guard together, that was the plan in PHX from day one. 2. Kyle absolutely hated being in Houston and was causing trouble, that was a big part of the equation. 3. That happens all the time, ask the nicks or the nets.
That was Carl with tongue fully in cheek. ;-)- Who knows what's going on behind the scenes in Phoenix? Dragic might want to leave if the Suns are making it clear that they intend to pay what it takes to keep Bledsoe (and that's pretty much what they're saying, right?). My guess is that Dragic wants the reins. He wants to be the starting point and not have a young stud (if he stays healthy) breathing down his neck, waiting for him to stumble, perhaps get banged up a bit, miss some games, and then return to find out that his starting gig has been lost to said young stud, exactly what Lowry faced, a situation we, and Dragic, are all too familiar with, with Goran knowing that he caused Kyle to lose his starting gig, playing the role as the dude making off with that position. He could be ticked off at the 1's the Suns have collected, for whatever reason that's driven them to do it, and is worrying about that, a lot. Goran could be jonesin' for a genuine shot with a contending team, which describes the Rockets, and also looking at a promise from Houston to pay him what he's worth, with no worries about said young stud breathing down his neck. A Houston team quite different from the team he left for Phoenix. A team in a much larger market, something his agent is certainly pointing out, that would make serious noise with Gogi, Howard, Harden, Ariza, Beverley, and young talent, with picks to use, even after a Dragic deal, to continue improving. A team that can make a convincing argument that he can to put them over the top and into the Western Conference Finals. A contender. It could be as simple as wanting to be the point guard, and not a guy moving from one spot to another for the Suns, unsure of what his future is there, long term. In other words, there are reasons for Gogi to leave the Suns, and Phoenix has their own reasons. Money, the real possibility of losing Dragic for nothing next year, and preventing a possible problem with chemistry down the line. As has been pointed out numerous times, they're looking at a big chunk of cap going to 4 point guards, with Dragic due for a very large raise in a year. So in my opinion, it isn't at all unreasonable to think that Phoenix might want to move one of Dargic or Bledsoe, with my money on Dragic being the odd man out. (geez! I wrote this, decided to make an edit, and by the time I finished all that with distractions and using my 2 fingers, this has gone another couple of pages)
Wonder if we could spin this into a 3-way, getting Goran and Ersan. I imagine our pick, Jones, and a lot of the youngins and foreign players would be traded.
1. That explains why the Clippers played Chris Paul and Darren Collison together. Because Vinny didn't, didn't mean Doc wouldn't, and Doc did, but he made the trade for $$$ 2. You're not really a Houston fan are you? Asik was a giant **** and Morey waited an entire year to get the best deal, and he would have done the same to Kyle. Any later and he would have started losing leverage in the deal. Like how do you be a fan of this team and not understand how Morey works? 3. In January? Nope, before the season? Yep!
Terrence Jones is the most valuable acquirable rookie deal in the nba right now. The 2014 class? nah, none of them are up for trade for anything less than Love, the Lakers could have Bledsoe for Randle + Nash right now if they wanted, but no way they do that. 2013 class? they all suck, except maybe Greek Freak, but he's not on the market. 2012? Well Jones is the 5th, maybe 4th best player from that class, there's Brow, Lillard, Drummond, and maybe Beal, then Jones, and those 4? nope Then 2011, but that's in rfa range, and then it's just Kyrie, Klay and Kawhi anyway, Jonas maybe.
1. That's pure assumption, I think a major reason for the trade was the perceived inability to play two 6'0 guards together. 2. The longer you keep a disgruntled star on your roster the less leverage you'll have in any-sort of a trade. 3. Melo was traded in February.
It's not even close to the same situation. It's one thing to have two starting caliber Centers, because one can be a back up until the time comes to move him, like we did. Plus, getting Dwight made us title contenders. They have 3 PGs that will all be making at least 7mil per year, Bledsoe likely no less than 12-13 mil and they still aren't very close to being contenders. It doesn't make sense to tie up all that money into one position when it won't even put you over the top. It would be different if they hadn't just signed Isaiah Thomas, if you don't think they signed him to replace Dragic you're crazy. Whether they trade him or just let him walk, they aren't gonna want to pay him what he's worth next year. So why not go ahead and sign his replacement and trade Dragic to sure up other positions? I think a trade package of Tjones, Capila, Canaan, NOP pick, and a future pick would make a lot of sense for them. They need a PF, will need a 3rd string PG (AT THE RIGHT PRICE) and will want picks. That's as good an offer they'll get I think.
I think Atlanta will want to give the Horford-Millsap combo another shot. Think he is well out of our reach. Bucks were known to be wanting to ditch Ersan Rockets get Dragic, Ilyasova Bucks get Jones, a future pick, expirings Suns get Pelicans pick, Johnson?, International players, Bucks big man I dont know if thats fair tho...
Then I'm crazy, because I really don't understand how will a 5'9 guard replace a 6'4 dragic playing major minutes at SG. And no, a 6'1 Bledsoe is not perfectly capable of defending the 2 position. He's a good defender, but is severely undersized to effectively cover that.
Draft picks and mediocre prospects is the last thing the Suns need. They need top-end talent, you know, like Dragic. They already have too many young players and future draft picks. Ennis, Goodwin and Warren will spend most of the season on the bench or in the D-League because there's not enough playing time for everyone. The Suns also have 3 picks in next year's draft and had to draft a Euro at #27 this year because they don't want more young players and didn't want to sell the draft pick for cash.
+1 What JMAD21 said is like saying: "If you don't think the Clippers signed Hawes to replace Jordan/Griffin you're crazy".
Anytime your package features a below average starting PF and a 3rd string PG as what's going to fetch you an all-star caliber player...it's safe to say you're probably not being realistic
