2. Still A (Slight) Chance To Re-Sign
Let’s not jump the gun on McDonough accepting defeat and moving Green before he can leave the Suns for nothing. According to ArizonaSports.com, McDonough said Green joins Dragic as being Phoenix’s top free agent priority this summer.
Obviously the Dragon will take on a little bit more importance come free agency, but the fact that the Suns GM is already stressing his importance means something. This could just be a case of “saying all the right things,” but if Phoenix can work out a manageable deal that suits both parties, why wouldn’t they?
It’s true that money is going to be tight. When Dragic uses his player option to become a free agent, the Suns will have about $53.4 million in guaranteed salary for 2015-16 (per Basketball-Reference) and according to Grantland’s Zach Lowe, the salary cap will only rise to about $66-67 million next year. That doesn’t leave a ton of wiggle room for Dragic’s big extension, let alone Dragic, Wright AND Green.
But in the event the Suns give up on the “point guard hydra” and deal Isaiah Thomas, or in the event Dragic somehow signs with someone else (which I still don’t see happening), the Suns may have more spending room for Green than previously anticipated.
Next: No. 1