Goran Dragic on the Suns:

[Revived]

Truth

I've seen posters call him a cancer, a punk, caring only about the $$$, stats and the limelight but that is so far from the truth, it's infuriating

Rubbish.

He didn't want to play in Phoenix or Milwaukee but wanted to get traded to LA, NY or Miami. Do you know why? Because these are big market teams with crappy point guards where Goran's star could shine brighter. He definitely didn't want to go there because he's a team player who cares about winning.

Do you know what's far from the truth?

This:

The guy played hard every game

and this:

he was a complete professional throughout the season

and this:

How do you blame a player for wanting to be the best player he can be to help the team?

and this:

McD screwed up.

and this:

He treated Dragic like he was an asset through and through

You were never much of a Dragic fan to begin with, so it can be easy to only accept your perception of certain things to reinforce those views. About the "How do you blame a player for wanting to be the best player he can be to help the team?" which you say is far from the truth. What lilfishi likely meant was that he wanted to be in the role that suited his skills best, and Phx wasn't doing that. So it was probably better to move on.

^this. IIRC, gasper was one of those who said the Dragic was a fluke season and that we should have traded him at the deadline in 2014 in the year when he won MPOY and was all nba. The only player on our team that actually had national recognition.

I liked Dragic and I've been on his side during this divorce but regardless of that, you and lilfishi actually bring up valid points which I have yet to see anyone on the other side of this actually dispute with any kind of valid arguments.I'm not saying you two are right simply because I have the same viewpoint, but no one else imo has brought up a valid counter argument other than the usual, basically "Dragic is a bit*h" crap.

[bwgood77]

There were other teams in MUCH better shape that needed PGs, Goran limited the options to 3 teams that are all bad, that have players that will vastly overshadow him in the offense (Miami included, where he played a VERY similar role to here, mostly having to watch Chalmers and Wade handle the ball). There are several teams that needed PGs, two of whom showed serious interest (Houston and Milwaukee) and both those teams were much much better than the ones he tried to force his way too. But... he didn't want to play there... because his role was not the main issue.

If Bledsoe had told the Suns to ship him to the Knicks, Lakers or Heat then people here would have murdered him for being all about the glamor, and rightfully so. But St. Dragic can do it, while all those teams are dung heaps, while dragging the team's reputation through the dirt and he still comes off spotless in the eyes of many.

Seriously... the Knicks, Lakers and Heat were the only teams he was willing to go to. Claiming this was about his "role" is an absolutely laughable assertion.

Who needed point guards? Maybe Houston, but only because Beverly was hurt. Harden handles the ball more than Wade, due to his PT and probably usage, and Beverly is a better defender and 3 pt shooter. No one else quickly comes to mind.

[bwgood77]

^this. IIRC, gasper was one of those who said the Dragic was a fluke season and that we should have traded him at the deadline in 2014 in the year when he won MPOY and was all nba. The only player on our team that actually had national recognition.

I liked Dragic and I've been on his side during this divorce but regardless of that, you and lilfishi actually bring up valid points which I have yet to see anyone on the other side of this actually dispute with any kind of valid arguments.I'm not saying you two are right simply because I have the same viewpoint, but no one else imo has brought up a valid counter argument other than the usual, basically "Dragic is a bit*h" crap.

It was also mentioned that Dragic is worth no more than what his current contract was. It's fine to have that opinion, but I don't agree.

[Revived]

^this. IIRC, gasper was one of those who said the Dragic was a fluke season and that we should have traded him at the deadline in 2014 in the year when he won MPOY and was all nba. The only player on our team that actually had national recognition.

I liked Dragic and I've been on his side during this divorce but regardless of that, you and lilfishi actually bring up valid points which I have yet to see anyone on the other side of this actually dispute with any kind of valid arguments.I'm not saying you two are right simply because I have the same viewpoint, but no one else imo has brought up a valid counter argument other than the usual, basically "Dragic is a bit*h" crap.

It was also mentioned that Dragic is worth no more than what his current contract was. It's fine to have that opinion, but I don't agree.

I don't think anyone in their right mind will. There was various articles which said that Dragic was one of NBA's most underpaid contracts even BEFORE he broke out for his all nba season.

[lilfishi22]

^this. IIRC, gasper was one of those who said the Dragic was a fluke season and that we should have traded him at the deadline in 2014 in the year when he won MPOY and was all nba. The only player on our team that actually had national recognition.

I liked Dragic and I've been on his side during this divorce but regardless of that, you and lilfishi actually bring up valid points which I have yet to see anyone on the other side of this actually dispute with any kind of valid arguments.I'm not saying you two are right simply because I have the same viewpoint, but no one else imo has brought up a valid counter argument other than the usual, basically "Dragic is a bit*h" crap.

It was also mentioned that Dragic is worth no more than what his current contract was. It's fine to have that opinion, but I don't agree.

You didn't think Dragic was worth more than his current contract?

[bwgood77]

^this. IIRC, gasper was one of those who said the Dragic was a fluke season and that we should have traded him at the deadline in 2014 in the year when he won MPOY and was all nba. The only player on our team that actually had national recognition.

I liked Dragic and I've been on his side during this divorce but regardless of that, you and lilfishi actually bring up valid points which I have yet to see anyone on the other side of this actually dispute with any kind of valid arguments.I'm not saying you two are right simply because I have the same viewpoint, but no one else imo has brought up a valid counter argument other than the usual, basically "Dragic is a bit*h" crap.

It was also mentioned that Dragic is worth no more than what his current contract was. It's fine to have that opinion, but I don't agree.

You didn't think Dragic was worth more than his current contract?

No, I thought he was worth more.

[ryanball]

You can blame Dragic for losing patience and not making a (huge) sacrifice during his contract year, but I don’t think there are many players in the league who would, certainly not All NBA or All Star caliber players. In the end Dragic just didn’t trust the Suns to appropriately reward his “sacrifice” during free agency and based on all the moves they've made, it would be extremely hard to blame him for that. He wasn't willing to sacrifice his financial future just for the slight chance of barely making the playoffs in the west and a 1st round exit and on top of that he didn't believe Suns could compete in the west with the existing roster.

I am a fan of the team, players are secondary. Once players are no longer Suns I don't care about them with few exceptions. The only exceptional thing Dragic did was whine about his situation and criticize the Suns.

So I have no problem blaming him. There was no actual sacrifice asked of him or offered by him, he was paid according to his contract to play basketball. He could have moved on to another team without any public disrespect. I don't see why as a Suns fan I should have any respect for him now? I mean its over and I have moved on, but attempts to rehabilitate his image or paint him as a victim are laughable.

In the end, Dragic is a good player but he is not amazing or irreplaceable. He might have been our best player, but not by much and that is on a team that distinctly lacks any extraordinary talent. Before this happened I wanted to keep him of course, but in retrospect and seeing his attitude now, we might be better off without him anyway. He is mentally weak to think he is being made a 'fool' for basically not having things go exactly his way. Something would have set him off eventually so I'm glad to be rid of him now when we aren't competitive anyway, rather than when it could actually matter.

[denial]

No more of a punk than McDuh is. I was not impressed with either's public commentary. Trouble is, Dragic spoke the truth and blacked our eye. McDuh backpedaled into the corner with weak jabs.... then swung wildly with Knight as the bell approached.

[bwgood77]

OK, I think we have exhausted this topic and need to focus on the future, so I am going to lock it. No more Dragic talk. If people want to talk about what Dragic is doing in Miami, that could be a good thread, but it will need to be one that only people who want to follow and watch Dragic contribute in. No need to constantly talk about this whole situation.