Phoenix Suns: The Pros And Cons Of Keeping Goran Dragic

The Phoenix Suns are in a precarious position with the trade deadline approaching this week. They currently hold the final playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference, but it’s only a matter of time before the healthy Oklahoma City Thunder catch up and make the Suns the odd man out.

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Simply put, general manager Ryan McDonough’s gambit at running teams off the court with three point guards hasn’t paid off. This team needs to make some personnel changes, not only to bolster their run at a final playoff spot, but to secure their long-term future as well.

At the crux of the issue is the last player any Suns fan wants to be at the center of this tough decision. Fan favorite Goran Dragic will opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer, and the Suns have a tough call to make. Do they trade him and cash in on his value now, or do they continue in their attempts to re-sign him this summer?

Conflicting reports don’t offer much clarity. First Howard Beck of Bleacher Report offered this nugget of news yesterday:

Suns were active on the phones this weekend. The sense is they are ready to deal Dragic, rather than risk losing him to free agency.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 16, 2015

But then Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports offered his own reassuring insight less than an hour later:

Sources: Goran Dragic's agent plans to meet w/ team officials Tuesday, but Phoenix's determination unchanged: Suns want to re-sign Dragic.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 16, 2015

Either way, the path to keeping Goran Dragic is a difficult and potentially expensive one. Nothing is guaranteed, and the trade deadline comes with tons of complications. But if the Suns are intent on keeping the Dragon, here’s what that process would look like…and what the pros and cons of pursuing that course of action are.

Next: Fan Favorite vs. Leaving Anyway