Suns News: Week 17 2/16-2/22

[INFORMER]

You say all of that like it's only about Thomas. It's not. And rather than start demanding certain players dealt, Dragic is willing to say, "You made your choice; now I'm going to make mine."

No. It's also about Bledsoe - a player Dragic worked really well with last year and supposedly enjoyed playing with. We made a commitment to half of that tandem, but haven't had an opportunity to make a commitment to the other half yet. That was going to happen this summer.

Between taking turns when they were both in and staggering the rotation, Dragic had plenty of opportunity to play PG when it was just him and Bledsoe. The IT signing is what upset the balance there.

It's fine that they played well together, but it still didn't maximize Dragic's abilities. If he's asking to be able to run his own team, that's about as clear as an indication that he's not in favor of the spot point duties he had last season when Bledsoe was in the lineup.

[INFORMER]

I really don't want to watch a starting lineup of Bledsoe/IT.

I don't think they'll start that combo. And with Dragic leaving, I would prefer that the Suns keep Thomas, unless offered a really good prospect and/or substantial draft consideration(s).

[AmareIsGod]

Maybe Goran isn't looking forward to this guy coming to the team next season either...


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[INFORMER]

Some much needed good news:
https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/567937641896751105

[Shabazz]

I'm over Thomas. I wouldn't be said to see him go. Terrific scorer, but I don't anybody likes playing with him.

[INFORMER]

Maybe Goran isn't looking forward to this guy coming to the team next season either...

I thought the plan was to leave him in Europe for 2 years...

[Sunsfan4life]

I love dragic. Hes my boy. But i dunno what hes doing here. If he had bad feelings toward the suns its 1 thing but then it also leaks that he doesnt wanna sign with houston either n is intrigued with the lakers n knicks? It goes against what he had said like 2 weeks ago bout houston n phx.So he eliminates houston n phx n says i wanna go play with kobe or melo?

[AmareIsGod]

Maybe Goran isn't looking forward to this guy coming to the team next season either...

I thought the plan was to leave him in Europe for 2 years...

Plans change. Especially if Goran is hasta pasta in the immediate future.

[Sunsfan4life]

From a money persepective it makes no sense ro eliminate 2 bidders.

[INFORMER]

So he eliminates houston n phx n says i wanna go play with kobe or melo?

Kobe is done. So I don't think he plays a factor in Goran's decision. What LA and NY have in common is that they don't have a point guard and they'll pay anything.

Also realize that a lot this is his agent. The only marching orders Dragic likely gave him is 1) get me out of Phoenix and 2) get me somewhere I can run the point.

[INFORMER]

From a money persepective it makes no sense ro eliminate 2 bidders.

Houston low balled him last time AND elected to give Jeremy Lin a substantial deal. I'm sure Goran's agent remembers that.

[iLLmatic]

Maybe Goran isn't looking forward to this guy coming to the team next season either...

I thought the plan was to leave him in Europe for 2 years...

Plans change. Especially if Goran is hasta pasta in the immediate future.

I bet the Suns are gonna work to get him here next year.

[Sunsfan4life]

I might be wrong on this but isnt duffy the same agent nash had? Dragic signed right after we dealt nash n there were whispers of the 2 being connected cause nash begged sarver to ship him to LA n he didnt want to?

[Sunsfan4life]

From a money persepective it makes no sense ro eliminate 2 bidders.

Houston low balled him last time AND elected to give Jeremy Lin a substantial deal. I'm sure Goran's agent remembers that.

I thought that too until dragic was pretty adament how he would consider them. This was only like 2 weeks ago. Maybe after the meeting the suns told Goran they have a deal in place with houston n he just came clean.

[INFORMER]

I think Dragic at that time (and at the instruction of his agent) wanted to leave all doors open. But we've reached the point where things have gotten serious, so it's time to show your hand.

[Shabazz]

Gambo says we're interested in D-Mo and the Pelicans pick from Houston.

[Ring_Wanted]

You say all of that like it's only about Thomas. It's not. And rather than start demanding certain players dealt, Dragic is willing to say, "You made your choice; now I'm going to make mine."

No. It's also about Bledsoe - a player Dragic worked really well with last year and supposedly enjoyed playing with. We made a commitment to half of that tandem, but haven't had an opportunity to make a commitment to the other half yet. That was going to happen this summer.

Between taking turns when they were both in and staggering the rotation, Dragic had plenty of opportunity to play PG when it was just him and Bledsoe. The IT signing is what upset the balance there.

Totally agreed.

[INFORMER]

https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/567923140229275648 Not big on Jason Thompson... at all. I know we were really high on Stauskas at the draft though.

If the Suns could quit Bledsoe, I would love to get Darren Collison. Best contract in the league. Quite a player too.

[virtual9mm]

As I may have mentioned, Dragic's MO has been to diminish his trade value so that the team that trades for him has to give back to the Suns as few assets as possible. I am not surprised by this turn of events. In the end, treating players as "assets" to be traded only goes so far.

That being said, I wonder if this might all be for the best, if the Suns can get enough of a bidding war going for Dragic, and get a good return.

The issue with Dragic being a solo lead guard is threefold: (1) he needs a "four corners" type of offense to have space to penetrate and dish; (2) unlike Nash, he does not play the pick and roll very well; and (3) I would be very, very concerned about the longevity of his ankle, which shows classic signs of partial tears in the ATFL and CTFL ligaments. Had this not been a contract season, I wonder if he would have undergone the Brostrom procedure, which has close to a 100% success rate with a few seasons of rehab. So, I would have been fine with pairing him with Bledsoe for sharing combo guard duties, but would have perhaps been hesitant to build a team around him.

That being said, I will miss Dragic and consider this a major black mark on Babby and McDonough.

[Ring_Wanted]

But you know what, I am willing to gamble.

First I trade IT3+, regardless. Then I let Dragic know that we will pay him more than anyone if things work out the rest of the season, it is, if the team plays better ball and he gets more comfortable with just Bledsoe. If that doesn't happen, he is free to sign with the Lakers, Knicks, etc.