Goran Dragic: How To Trade Your Dragon

Feb 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives baseline against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives baseline against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Goran Dragic
Jan 30, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) is guarded by Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Phoenix defeats Indiana 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Indiana Pacers

The Trade:

The good news: this trade comes with zero risk and an expiring contract. The bad news: the Suns could probably do better and the wrong player in this deal is the one who becomes a free agent this summer.

C.J. Miles is a useful shooter, but he’s not worth the three years and $13.5 million that will still be left on his contract after this season. Chris Copeland is an intriguing prospect, but he’ll be a free agent soon and both players would really just be cap filler to facilitate a deal for Indiana’s first round pick.

The only problem is, trading Dragic to a team that’s on the cusp of the playoffs and will be getting Paul George back soon severely hurts the chance of that pick amounting to anything special.

Indiana would love to get their hands on such a superior upgrade to George Hill. Frank Vogel is a defensive coach, so putting the ball in Dragic’s hands would definitely help improve one of the league’s worst offenses. But a Dragic-Hill-George-West-Hibbert core is definitely a playoff team, which means Phoenix’s pick would wind up being in the teens.

That might be the best the Suns can do in a rushed Goran Dragic trade…but somehow I doubt it.

Next: Dragic Following His Mentor's Footsteps...