Goran Dragic

[Proteus]

Right now is some weird situation about wich club have his rights.

Three years ago he signed with Tau Ceramica, but his former club Slovan demands some cash beacause he had still 1 or 2 years contract with them. They didn't recieve nothing and today is written in Slovenian newspapers that his former club Slovan from Ljubljana win on court and he's back player of Slovan. Until Tau Ceramica pays to his former club, he's member of Slovan.

Also it's written that Tau Ceramica would demand 1M Euros to let him go to Suns.

Deffinately for Suns would be easier to negotiate with Slovan then with Tau Ceramica, but my opinion is: it's better for him and Suns to stay one more year and play in Euroleague and develop. But in near future you can expect a lot from him!

How much is 1 million Euros in US dollars?

But who will be the backup point guard this year if he stays in Europe?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

How much is 1 million Euros in US dollars?

But who will be the backup point guard this year if he stays in Europe?

About 2M.

I think you guys are missing the biggest part of this trade.

The Suns actually sent cash to someone else!!

 

[carey]

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/workout_dragic_080622.wmv

It looks like the Suns worked him out secretly on Monday. Looks like his ball handling needs some work but overall I was kind of impressed. Of course it's hard to tell much watching him run around, shoot jumpers, and shoot over a smaller defender.

 

[da_suns_fan]

About 2M.

I think you guys are missing the biggest part of this trade.

The Suns actually sent cash to someone else!!

And they traded two second round picks for one. That off-sets the cash.

 

[Covert Rain]

And they traded two second round picks for one. That off-sets the cash.

And will probably save on salary because I doubt this guy plays on this team this next season.

 

[da_suns_fan]

And will probably save on salary because I doubt this guy plays on this team this next season.

Good point.

 

[nowagimp]

Unless the Suns make more trades (Barbosa or Diaw), then the Suns will need to add that 3rd coveted player that they were trying to get through the draft or free agency. They went into the draft looking to get 3 players...
1. back-up center----Check. Robin Lopez
2. back-up PG----Check. Traded Malik Hairston to Spurs for Goran Dragic
3. defensive wing (Yet to be determined)

With the draft over, if the Suns can't get an un-drafted free agent to fill that role, then I think they should look in the direction of James Jones. He opted out of his player option in Portland, and with what Portland did in the draft today, doesn't look like they will have room nor the want to bring him back. The Suns found out this year what they lost when they traded him to Portland last summer. His stats are great and would do wonders for this team from a defensive and 3pt shooting aspect. As long as he has no hard feelings towards the organization, I think he'd love to come back.

My expectations now through pre-season is the following if nothing else happens via trade, free agency or un-drafted free agency:
Re-sign Skinner
Re-sign Giricek
Sign Jones
Sign Otis George (Suns liked him a lot last pre-season but didn't sign him)

with that, and if we can buy-out Dragic and bring him in the Suns roster would be:

Nash/Dragic/Srawberry
Bell/Barbosa
Hill/Jones/Tucker
Amare/Diaw/George
Shaq/Lopez/Skinner

That's a good roster with some added pieces for the future to round out the team.

I agree, if they get jones and Dragic comes over, the suns management has done a nice job of addressing needs. Jones will create some spacing with his shot, and he's a nice help defender. JR will not be able to guard a tony parker(or a fast wing) straight up, though, but he is perhaps a better help defender than anyone but hill, bell on the suns.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

Dragic is definitely not coming over next season. His overseas contract forbids it. The earliest he can come to the NBA is 2010 season.

Even then, his team, TAU Ceramica, might be willing to match anything, including MLE money, to keep Dragic because their starting PG is nearing retirement and they see Dragic as the replacement.

This might very well be another Tiago Splitter-Spurs situation.
Dragic might be ready to join the NBA, then when the Suns try to acquire him, he can be offered 3-4 times or maybe even higher than that of a contract by TAU.

When it's time to decide either Europe or NBA, Dragic might go with Europe based on the large difference of salaries. We're not talking maybe 2 or 3 million, we're talking about maybe 5-8 million depending on how the Suns' cap looks like when the decision comes around.

You really couldn't blame him if he does go with Europe. Would you rather get 2-3 million a year, or around 7-9 million a year?

Either way, the Suns will have to pull off a hell of a deal to get Dragic over to America.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Dragic is definitely not coming over next season. His overseas contract forbids it. The earliest he can come to the NBA is 2010 season.

Even then, his team, TAU Ceramica, might be willing to match anything, including MLE money, to keep Dragic because their starting PG is nearing retirement and they see Dragic as the replacement.

This might very well be another Tiago Splitter-Spurs situation.
Dragic might be ready to join the NBA, then when the Suns try to acquire him, he can be offered 3-4 times or maybe even higher than that of a contract by TAU.

When it's time to decide either Europe or NBA, Dragic might go with Europe based on the large difference of salaries. We're not talking maybe 2 or 3 million, we're talking about maybe 5-8 million depending on how the Suns' cap looks like when the decision comes around.

You really couldn't blame him if he does go with Europe. Would you rather get 2-3 million a year, or around 7-9 million a year?

Either way, the Suns will have to pull off a hell of a deal to get Dragic over to America.

Its gonna really suck for the Spurs if the Suns are able to do what the Spurs couldnt (bring a guy over from Tau).

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

Its gonna really suck for the Spurs if the Suns are able to do what the Spurs couldnt (bring a guy over from Tau).

Yes it would.
That being said, it's way too early to tell what the Suns or Dragic want to do about the situation, since they really can't do anything for another year or two.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Yes it would.
That being said, it's way too early to tell what the Suns or Dragic want to do about the situation, since they really can't do anything for another year or two.

My guess is that youre probably right. This guy is probably buried in Europe.

If the Spurs (who have the most international experience) can't their guys over, the Suns probably have no chance.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

And they traded two second round picks for one. That off-sets the cash.

Not this year. The extra 2nd round pick next year doesn't equal the amounts that I have heard thrown around for the pick (1.2M) No 2nd round pick gets that much dough in a contract.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

But I do believe that he can be a solid point guard in the NBA if he's brought over.
Not top 5 as one declared, but maybe at his highest potential, top 10.
He'd be a great Nash replacement. He can't do the things Nash does so well, but he'll be a serviceable starter.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

My guess is that youre probably right. This guy is probably buried in Europe.

If the Spurs (who have the most international experience) can't their guys over, the Suns probably have no chance.

The problem with why the Spurs couldn't bring over their last few international prospects (Scola, Splitter) was really because of the players' attitude.

Scola didn't like the fact that he would be a backup for Duncan, and Splitter is, for lack of a better word, an attention *****. He said in an interview that he didn't want to join the Spurs because he wouldn't be the main player because of Tim and Tony, and because he wouldn't be making much money because of the rookie pay scale, and if you add into consideration his buyout, he wouldn't be making much money his first year.

But hey maybe Dragic is one of the few Euros who truly want to come to the NBA at all costs no matter the situation. Anything's possible. I don't really know much about Dragic's attitude or personality, so I can't help anyone there.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Not this year. The extra 2nd round pick next year doesn't equal the amounts that I have heard thrown around for the pick (1.2M) No 2nd round pick gets that much dough in a contract.

DJ Strawberry's making 711,517 this year.

Pretty close.

 

[da_suns_fan]

The problem with why the Spurs couldn't bring over their last few international prospects (Scola, Splitter) was really because of the players' attitude.

Scola didn't like the fact that he would be a backup for Duncan, and Splitter is, for lack of a better word, an attention *****. He said in an interview that he didn't want to join the Spurs because he wouldn't be the main player because of Tim and Tony, and because he wouldn't be making much money because of the rookie pay scale, and if you add into consideration his buyout, he wouldn't be making much money his first year.

But hey maybe Dragic is one of the few Euros who truly want to come to the NBA at all costs no matter the situation. Anything's possible. I don't really know much about Dragic's attitude or personality, so I can't help anyone there.

Good info. I guess we'll see.

 

[tobiazz]

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/workout_dragic_080622.wmv

It looks like the Suns worked him out secretly on Monday. Looks like his ball handling needs some work but overall I was kind of impressed. Of course it's hard to tell much watching him run around, shoot jumpers, and shoot over a smaller defender.

Can't be worse than Jianlian's workout against a chair.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

DJ Strawberry's making 711,517 this year.

Pretty close.

So the argument about Sarver being cheap doesn't really carry much weight, as he is spending more money that he needs to, and doing it right now. Does it?

 

[nowagimp]

My guess is that youre probably right. This guy is probably buried in Europe.

If the Spurs (who have the most international experience) can't their guys over, the Suns probably have no chance.

If Im dragic, NO WAY I come over to the spurs with tony parker installed as a young PG. If this kid is any good, he wants a real opportunity to play, and be a starter. The suns with Nash, thats another story, much more attractive to come in and replace the 2 time MVP in 2 years. I also expect that steve nash is a draw as a mentor for a young PG. The suns also have a reputation of playing a euro style, a better transition for most euros. This kid is being compared with jason Kidd, that would not be a fit with the spurs even if Parker wasnt there. The spurs have failed to get value/performance out of both udrich and turkoglu, and traded away scola. The spurs kept oberto, parker and manu. My suspicion is that most euros look at the spurs plodding style and dont like it. The suns could become a plodding team like the spurs very soon, but for now, their rep is a faster paced game with a more euro style.

 

[nowagimp]

The problem with why the Spurs couldn't bring over their last few international prospects (Scola, Splitter) was really because of the players' attitude.

Scola didn't like the fact that he would be a backup for Duncan.

If Im scola, and oberto is starting, that would fry me. Duncan plays the '5' now is just about every respect. I seriously doubt scola couldnt beat out oberto for a starting job whatever you want to call it(4 or 5). I think

 

[KloD]

Why is ESPN and NBA not mentioning this trade?

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

If Im scola, and oberto is starting, that would fry me. Duncan plays the '5' now is just about every respect. I seriously doubt scola couldnt beat out oberto for a starting job whatever you want to call it(4 or 5). I think

Yea but it's as if he didn't want to work for the starting job.
He saw the competition of Oberto, Horry, Bonner, and Elson and wanted no part of it.
While in Houston his only competition was Hayes and a 1 footed Yao Ming.

 

[mojorizen7]

Why is ESPN and NBA not mentioning this trade?

Probably because nobody cares about the SPURS and the SUNS are also slipping into the media black hole.
I don't know but ESPN has done NOTHING but discuss Rose/Mayo/Beasley for weeks and it continues after the fact. I often wonder how different these drafts would go if it wasn't for ESPN hyping a few guys and ignoring the rest every year.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

Why is ESPN and NBA not mentioning this trade?

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/draft08_dragic.html

 

[da_suns_fan]

Yea but it's as if he didn't want to work for the starting job.
He saw the competition of Oberto and Elson and wanted no part of it.
While in Houston his only competition was Hayes and a 1 footed Yao Ming.

I guess playing in the NBA just doesn't mean what it once did.