1. Houston Rockets
The Trade:
Dragic didn’t list the Houston Rockets, a legitimate title contender with a healthy Dwight Howard, as one of his desired trade destinations. But according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, that’s not likely to stop Rockets general manager Daryl Morel from trying to work out a deal anyway:
Sounds like Rockets, as you'd expect, aren't ready to surrender on Dragic pursuit even amid strong word Dragic doesn't want to sign there
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 18, 2015
How that would work in Houston is perplexing. Pairing two talented lefties — Dragic and James Harden — in the backcourt would be a ton of fun, but Harden needs the ball in his hands to be effective. That might be the very reason Dragic left the Rockets off his list: he wouldn’t get as many touches as he needs, the chief reason he was unhappy in Phoenix in the first place.
If the Rockets get the sense they have no shot at re-signing him this summer, they might avoid trading for him, even if he would bolster a title run this season. Then again, it’s possible Dragic’s “interest” in signing with the Knicks or Lakers is just a ploy by his agents to get a real title contender like the Rockets to pony up the dough and match these “four years, $80 million” reports.
In whatever case, the Suns would need to start any conversation with either Terrence Jones or, preferably, Donatas Motiejunas. Given Howard’s health problems this season, however, it’s unlikely Morey is willing to part with D-Mo, so Jones and Kostas Papanikolaou — a young prospect the Rockets like — seems like the best the Suns can do as far as personnel.
Houston’s 2015 first rounder would possibly wind up being just as valuable as a nice acquisition like Jones. The Rockets’ pick is owed to them by the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that will likely miss the postseason given the recent surge of the Oklahoma City Thunder. That means Houston’s first rounder this year could be as high as anywhere from No. 12 – No. 14.
Here’s a look at another potential deal, this time a three-team trade, in case no one is enchanted by the prospect of Papanikolaou and Jones:
In this deal, the Denver Nuggets capitalize on the young assets and continue their fire sale. The Rockets get Dragic and the Suns receive Wilson Chandler, an upgrade from P.J. Tucker on the wing, in addition to Houston’s 2015 first rounder.
The Nuggets are a few moves away from blowing it up, and two young, promising assets like Terrence Jones and Kostas Papanikolaou would be a step in the right direction for a player who has been on the trade block for weeks now.
Tucker gives 110 percent whenever he’s on the floor, but he’s probably not a starting-caliber small forward. Chandler is. Because of Dragic’s free agency status this season, and a lack of leverage now that everyone knows he won’t re-sign in Phoenix, something like this might be the best the Suns can do.
What do you think, Suns fans? What’s the best Phoenix can get out of a Goran Dragic trade?
Next: Report: Goran Dragic Wants Out Of Phoenix