Trade talks & rumors

SirStefan32

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Babby was on the radio today and made some interesting comments.

http://arizonasports.com/41/1807242...l-be-active-in-trade-market-prior-to-deadline


I think that's a positive, perhaps after the All Star Break we start to see the youngsters get more time. He didn't comment on the Dragic for a 1st rounder rumor, of course. If that's all that the Suns can get for him that will be disappointing, unless it's unprotected from one of the bottom 3-4 teams in the league.

Well, Dragic will be gone for nothing this summer, so getting a first-round pick for him is a good thing. Nobody will give up a lot to get him when they can sign him outright in the summer.
 

Mainstreet

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I hope your not insinuating a deal made with Dragic for Nicholson being the components.

Nicholson is a type of guy I might trade Plumlee for, not Dragic.


He'd be perfect for us too if we can get rid of IT and play him and Bledsoe like last year.

I'm insinuating that I find Nicholson an intriguing young player. The components of the trade can always be negotiated and need not include Dragic. I'm uncertain if the Suns could draft anyone better than him.
 

Hoop Head

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Well, Dragic will be gone for nothing this summer, so getting a first-round pick for him is a good thing. Nobody will give up a lot to get him when they can sign him outright in the summer.

He could be gone with no compensation. Everything the Suns front office has said indicates they want to bring Dragic back. I don't think they're lying when they say that, the price has to be right and of course Dragic has to want to resign. I believe the team would be much better off sending Thomas off. I can't see Dragic resigning if both IT & Bledsoe are still here next season though. Losing Dragic, by trade or free agency, I think will hurt the team from an attendance and fan support side of things as well. He's arguably our most popular player and attendance and interest has been down this year even though they've been winning at a good rate.

They could be shopping him in order to see who his suitors might be in the offseason, if a team is really interested now and will have cap space this summer then chances are they'll pursue him. Shopping him could be a way of gauging the sort of attention he'll receive in FA and also help them better understand what other teams might be willing to pay him. They could still send him somewhere in the offseason in a sign & trade also.

It's all rumors right now and guesses right now. The only thing that confused me as the deadline draws closer is IT taking part in the Skills Competition during All Star Weekend. Out of our 3 PG's the one off the bench is chosen? Not Dragic who was All NBA last year or Bledsoe who is having a career season? I don't know how players are selected for that, I don't think it's something like the 3 PT contest or Slam Dunk contest where players lobby to be a part of it. I don't think that will help showcase him for a trade, if anything it says they're keeping him around, although I could be wrong.
 

overseascardfan

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Babby was on the radio today and made some interesting comments.

http://arizonasports.com/41/1807242...l-be-active-in-trade-market-prior-to-deadline






I think that's a positive, perhaps after the All Star Break we start to see the youngsters get more time. He didn't comment on the Dragic for a 1st rounder rumor, of course. If that's all that the Suns can get for him that will be disappointing, unless it's unprotected from one of the bottom 3-4 teams in the league.

He's a rental player who is not going to sign an extension before finalizing a trade. So why would teams give up anything when they can sign him this offseason and give up nothing. They waited too long, should have made a deal over the summer when his value was at its peak.
 

AzStevenCal

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He's a rental player who is not going to sign an extension before finalizing a trade. So why would teams give up anything when they can sign him this offseason and give up nothing. They waited too long, should have made a deal over the summer when his value was at its peak.

Bird rights. Not all teams will need to have his Bird rights but many of the contenders would so there is still a reason for some teams to give up value for him. Looking back perhaps it would have been best to trade him over the summer, assuming we could have received something better than Hibbert, but the team had no desire to part with him.

They still don't "want" to lose Dragic, if they are moving him it's just to keep from losing him for nothing IMO. I don't know how anyone can look at this team and think we will be better on the court by getting rid of him and none of the trade names I've heard are all that appealing.

Steve
 

slinslin

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If the Lakers were willing to give up complete protection of their pick in a trade for Dragic, would you do it?

I think you would probably have to do that, the Lakers being locked into a top 4 pick right now.

It would be hard to estimate how many more games they will win by adding Dragic for the rest of the season.
 

Covert Rain

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If the Lakers were willing to give up complete protection of their pick in a trade for Dragic, would you do it?

I think you would probably have to do that, the Lakers being locked into a top 4 pick right now.

It would be hard to estimate how many more games they will win by adding Dragic for the rest of the season.

Considering the other options (including getting nothing)? I would agree with you. You have to do that.
 

AzStevenCal

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If the Lakers were willing to give up complete protection of their pick in a trade for Dragic, would you do it?

I think you would probably have to do that, the Lakers being locked into a top 4 pick right now.

It would be hard to estimate how many more games they will win by adding Dragic for the rest of the season.

If the rumors are true about the Lakers offering him a 4 year, 80 million dollar deal then he's gone for sure. I suspect those rumors come from Goran's agent rather than a Laker's leak but that's just as big of a concern. No way are we paying him that kind of money so if that's the best offer, then yes, take it.

Steve
 

Covert Rain

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If the rumors are true about the Lakers offering him a 4 year, 80 million dollar deal then he's gone for sure. I suspect those rumors come from Goran's agent rather than a Laker's leak but that's just as big of a concern. No way are we paying him that kind of money so if that's the best offer, then yes, take it.

Steve

I kind of hope it's true because with all the recent rumors of Goran not being happy and wanting to move on.....this is the best deal we are going to get I bet. As you stated, there is no way we pay him that kind of money.
 

overseascardfan

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Bird rights. Not all teams will need to have his Bird rights but many of the contenders would so there is still a reason for some teams to give up value for him. Looking back perhaps it would have been best to trade him over the summer, assuming we could have received something better than Hibbert, but the team had no desire to part with him.

They still don't "want" to lose Dragic, if they are moving him it's just to keep from losing him for nothing IMO. I don't know how anyone can look at this team and think we will be better on the court by getting rid of him and none of the trade names I've heard are all that appealing.

Steve
Maybe the plan is to trade Dragic, tank the second half of the season and hope to land in the top 3 and get Okafor or Johnson and use the pick they acquire on a SG like the athletic kid from UVA with major hops, Justin Anderson I believe is his name.
 

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We have an attitude problem and we're gonna trade our best player / best attitude guy...makes perfect sense.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

AzStevenCal

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Maybe the plan is to trade Dragic, tank the second half of the season and hope to land in the top 3 and get Okafor or Johnson and use the pick they acquire on a SG like the athletic kid from UVA with major hops, Justin Anderson I believe is his name.

I'd love to add Okafor or Johnson, actually I'd prefer to find a way to add both of them. I like his measurables but I'm not completely sold on Anderson. I hate watching a Tony Bennett coached team so I haven't seen much of him. Now that Anderson is injured it will be interesting to see if the team results suggest his success is more system or player.

Steve
 

AzStevenCal

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We have an attitude problem and we're gonna trade our best player / best attitude guy...makes perfect sense.

I don't buy "best attitude" or "best player" at all. Goran has rolled over and played dead before with us and he's done more than his share of sulking during his Suns career. But, having said that, he is still our most liked and most likable player so the organization would probably be very reluctant to part ways with him. That reluctance would melt away quickly though if the rumors are true about a full max contract.

Steve
 

Phrazbit

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We have an attitude problem and we're gonna trade our best player / best attitude guy...makes perfect sense.

I read posts like this and I wonder if I'm watching the same games as others.

From the vids I see the team release I feel like Goran is probably a good locker room guy and great guy off the court, however, watching their games he hardly has the best attitude out there. He carries himself with as whiney of a demeanor as anyone, especially when the going gets bad. And that has nothing to do with the current 3 guard situation, as Goran's version of the "Manning Face" has been with him throughout his career.
 

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If the Lakers were willing to give up complete protection of their pick in a trade for Dragic, would you do it?

I think you would probably have to do that, the Lakers being locked into a top 4 pick right now.

It would be hard to estimate how many more games they will win by adding Dragic for the rest of the season.

I'd do it, but there's no way the Lakers would.
 

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Is Zoran's deal guaranteed next season? If the team moves Goran I doubt Zoran is a part of the youth movement. He plays SG/SF but is kind of small to play SF in the NBA. I would assume that Warren, Goodwin, & Bullock would be ahead of him in the depth chart though. I don't believe he's been assigned to the D-League at all this year either while Goodwin, Ennis, Warren, and Bullock have been going back and forth most of the season. If they saw Zoran as a player who could develop and fit into plans for the future you'd think they would be treating him the same instead of just using him as a seat warmer. If the Suns do trade Dragic this season will Zoran be thrown in or released outright?
 

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I don't buy "best attitude" or "best player" at all. Goran has rolled over and played dead before with us and he's done more than his share of sulking during his Suns career. But, having said that, he is still our most liked and most likable player so the organization would probably be very reluctant to part ways with him. That reluctance would melt away quickly though if the rumors are true about a full max contract.

Steve

Goran hasn't rolled over and played dead at all - he's been out ego'd by lesser, me first players and he's over it, and the coach isn't good or smart enough to work it out. Dragic can, and should be, a/the floor leader (bigger ego does not equal better player) but he needs the right supporting cast - Bledsoe, Thomas and the Morris brothers are anything but. From the club that hired Blanks and then approved a Beasley trade (M fcking Beasley?!), we've got prior; player attitude is essential when building a ball club and we've failed that test horrendously, twice now.

That being said, if Dragic is a max player then I don't want him and Bledsoe together for that price and trading him might be the best we can do. But it should never have come to this - we should have built around Dragic. Nightmares of history repeating itself where Dallas gave up on Nash abound.
 

3rdside

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I read posts like this and I wonder if I'm watching the same games as others.

From the vids I see the team release I feel like Goran is probably a good locker room guy and great guy off the court, however, watching their games he hardly has the best attitude out there. He carries himself with as whiney of a demeanor as anyone, especially when the going gets bad. And that has nothing to do with the current 3 guard situation, as Goran's version of the "Manning Face" has been with him throughout his career.

Best attitude guy in this case means "of all the guards we have, Goran is the one that, if given the reins to the team, is the one by far the most likely to create the best team chemistry via his style of play and personality".

I don't blame him for sulking in view of how RMcD / Hornacek have managed him and this team to date.
 
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slinslin

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Best attitude guy in this case means "of all the guards we have, Goran is the one that, if given the reins of the team, is the one by far the most likely to create the best team chemistry via is style of play and personality".

I don't blame him for sulking in view of how RMcD / Hornacek have managed him and this team to date.

absolutely subjective

Was a great season we had when Goran lead us to 25 wins, bet they were all happy in the lockerroom.

I am sorry if there is one thing Goran Dragic most certainly is not, it is a leader.
 

BC867

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How is Dragic our best player? Best case he has been our 3rd best player this season.
As 3rdside just posted, he's been out ego'd by lesser, me first players, standing in the corner waiting for the ball when open.

He is still our most talented Point Guard, but the priority is on undersized shooters to run the point. And Dragic is now our closing Small Forward.
 

slinslin

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As 3rdside just posted, he's been out ego'd by lesser, me first players, standing in the corner waiting for the ball when open.

He is still our most talented Point Guard, but the priority is on undersized shooters to run the point.

If he was truly our best player he would not let himself get "out ego'd" or whatever you think.

Did you know last season Isaiah Thomas averaged MORE PASSES per game than Dragic? That egoist.

Based on what is Dragic our most talented PG? He plays no defense for starters.

Bledsoe has clearly been FAR better than him.
 

3rdside

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absolutely subjective

Was a great season we had when Goran lead us to 25 wins, bet they were all happy in the lockerroom.

I am sorry if there is one thing Goran Dragic most certainly is not, it is a leader.

I agree that he's not a 'locker room / take this team on my shoulders / i'm going to make sure we win this game at all costs' type of leader - being out ego'd by Thomas and Bledsoe proves this. Rather, he'd be a leader via his style of play; setting the tone for the rest of the team i.e. leading by example.
 

slinslin

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Bledsoe is touching the ball LESS than he did last season and less than Dragic last season

Isaiah Thomas is getting the ball because he is playing well offensively. He is actually scoring efficiently in the halfcourt, something Dragic is not. IT has been much more effective in most play situations.

Besides Dragic's usage is not even that much down compared to last year as overly dramatic Dragic fantatics would like everyone to believe.


Sidenote:

Bledsoe+IT on the court => Suns +4.9
Bledsoe+Dragic on the court => Suns +4.4
Dragic+IT on the court => Suns +1.7
 
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3rdside

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If he was truly our best player he would not let himself get "out ego'd" or whatever you think.

Did you know last season Isaiah Thomas averaged MORE PASSES per game than Dragic? That egoist.

Based on what is Dragic our most talented PG? He plays no defense for starters.

Bledsoe has clearly been FAR better than him.

I can't prove anything - bar looking at his play, stats, and team chemistry from last year, but, post trade to the Rockets, let's see how he goes.
 
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