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Goran Dragic: How To Trade Your Dragon

Gerald Bourguet|
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
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Goran Dragic
Feb 11, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) with head coach Jeff Hornacek against the Miami Heat at the US Airways Center. The Heat defeated the Suns 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Miami Heat

The Trade:

Back when I first named the top potential trade targets for the Phoenix Suns, Luol Deng was one of them. In the deal I proposed, the Heat would fix their point guard problems by taking on Isaiah Thomas and add a proven bench scorer in Gerald Green in exchange for Deng and Norris Cole — a player Miami has no need for.

ESPN’s Kevin Pelton agreed as well, noting that a Thomas and Green swap for Deng would be mutually beneficial. Miami is trying to stay alive in the playoff race and has a trio of virtually useless point guards between Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier. Trading for Thomas would’ve accomplished the goal of staying in the playoff mix; swapping in Dragic in his stead makes this a home run for Miami.

A Deng-for-Dragic swap works just fine, but in the deal above the Suns throw in an extra asset (Green) while taking a movable player (Cole) off Miami’s hands in order to further entice the Heat. The Suns will still need a backup point guard more capable than rookie Tyler Ennis if they want to make the playoffs — which is exactly what this trade accomplishes.

The Suns would be upgrading from Tucker to Deng on the wing, someone who is a proven defender and can also knock down threes. He’s vastly superior to Tucker as a scorer as well. Cole is no IT off the bench, but he could help the Suns continue their style of play…with DUAL point guard lineups only, of course.

If the Suns are still dead-set on making the playoffs this season, this could be as good as it gets. Most of these other deals are more focused on the long-term and come with a number of caveats. With the Heat on Dragic’s list of preferred trade destinations, Miami would be willing to trade for him and Pat Riley would feel comfortable about his odds to re-sign the Dragon this summer.

As for the Suns, they’d be getting a player who’d help fortify their run for a playoff spot. However, it’s not quite as good as our final hypothetical trade since the soonest the Heat could offer a first round pick is 2019. The Suns can probably get a first rounder as soon as 2015 if they so desire.

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