Insight into Goran Dragic career

[Fight4]

First let me introduce myself, I am a supporter of Goran Dragic from Slovenia. I use the word supporter instead of fan, because I'm not really that into basketball, it's mostly occasional entertainment for me. Goran gives me more incentive to watch NBA games, you could say it gives me more off a personal connection to the game.
OK, the reason for me writing this is, because I would like to give you an insight into what kind of a player Goran is and so you Miami Heat fans get more off a complete picture of him. Obviously I'm a little biased, but I will try to show you both side of Goran, the good and the less good. I also added links in which you can see how Dragic developed, his signature moves, clutch plays and so on...
Before I start let me apologize in advance for any mistake I made writing this, English isn't my first language and I am a bit rusty.

About Goran Dragic career (ps. this may be a long post, so my bad)

I first saw Goran Dragic play, when he started playing for Slovenian national team and for Union Olimpija (who was at that time solid Euroleague basketball club). Right from the start it was apparent that he will be great player. The most memorable impression from that period is from European basketball championship, where he played great, especially against France and Tony Parker. His great games weren't noticed just by me, the Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr also mentioned that his performance against Tony Parker was part od the reason why they drafted him (officially it was drafted with 45 pick by Spurs, but on a request of Steve Kerr).

First year in the NBA was really bad for Goran, he didn't play a lot, he didn't have the confidence and his shooting wasn't that good. He was even given the nickname Tragic by some st.... reporter and labeled one of the worst NBA players. Even though he strugeled, he wasn't that bad for a rookie point gard from Europe.

In the second year is where Goran Dragic hatched and became the Dragon. In that year (2009/2010) he was labeled by the Phoenix Suns fans as the best backup Steve Nash ever had. Steve Nash became his mentor and a friend to Goran Dragic. By the way Steve Nash was Gorans favourite player to watch in the NBA, while he was growing up. In that year Goran almost doubled his points per game, played in 80 games, shot 45% FG (6% better than year before) and 39% from 3. In that year the Phoenix Suns reached WCF and lost to the Lakers 4-2 (Lakers became the champions that year). I am not sure, but I think Goran was also recognized as the second best bench player for that year and Phoenix bench was the best bench in the NBA (also fun to watch, high energy guys).

Some links, that show Gorans moves from that year, that he still uses, just that he refined them through the years
and also what he learned from Steve Nash. Videos against the Lakers are from the playoffs->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHPpGv7-js
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZEPw2AT8g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbId8Hdw6As
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfBUz7ZL1FU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmdtinDBib4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_-2b3vpnW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPeoPWlUlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beIdSArsC8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCw5HLB_nI

Goran didn't disappear in the playoffs like most young players. On the big stage he was on fire.

The best games was a game 3 against Spurs where he scored 26 points (23 in the fourth quarter). But the most impressive thing wasn't the 26 points, but the way he got them. He took over in the 4 quarter and only stopped when the game was over. Spurs with all the great players and Popovich, were just spectators in their own arena.

Links ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G5mv713WA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNGMEqW4psE

The next year he was traded, because he didn't play on the same/higher level as the previous year. A lot of that was, because some bench guys were traded and replacement weren't exactly good players. Phoenix Suns were far from the team, that almost won the title. Steve Kerr left the position of GM that year and since then the Phoenix Suns didn't make the playoffs. Dragic was traded for Brooks, to the Rockets, to be a backup for Lowry. Brooks played poorly for Phoenix and later went and play in China. Phoenix Suns also send a first round pick with Dragic to Rockets, A disastrous trade for Phoenix.

With Rockets, Dragic got his opportunity, when Lowry got an infection in the second half of the 2011/2012 season. He started in about 30 games (shortened season) and produced about 18 points (13 APG) and 8 assists per game as a starter (49% FG, 37% for 3). He was the main reason that the Rockets even came close to the playoffs. Rockets were in the playoff position all up to the last few games, whenLowry returned and kind of ruined chemistry and rotation. There are some people who would say Goran wasn't even good enough to lead his team to the playoff. Of Course those people won't mention that Rockets were plagued with injuries, Lowry out(PG), Kevin Martin (SG avg 20 pt per game) out and some other players I don't remember. Just to give you a better picture in how difficult situation Rockets were, I will list players who were healthy and in rotation: Luis Scola (best player after Dragic, at the time still good), Camby, Chandler Parsons (his rookie year), David Lee and backup for Dragic was Boykins (one off the smallest players in the NBA) + some other bench players I don't remember.
To me that's not WC playoff team, yet they got close and played really good under Dragic leading the show.

Dragic also won his first player of the week award as a starter for the Rockets.

Some videos ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi9beelAZSY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOCya6TEgZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbQ8Jcv_QX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEOlxGQ60n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP-b5BuyJjI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6KbiJOftg4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9ghl3szJpA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYb_qcCRcY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjK8IwKss5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdLiIZCSpB0

Dragic became a free agent after that and went back to Phoenix, to be a successor to Steve Nash. Lowry got traded and Jeremy Lin was Dragic and Lowry replacement. Jeremy Lin didn't exatly perform as expected and was exually payed more then Dragic and Lowry, who both played better than him.

2012/13 Phoenix Suns were an awful team, mostly because of the poorly constructed rooster and lack of team chemistry. To give you an example what I mean by badly constructed, I'll list some players who players who played for the Suns: Shannon Brown (starter SG), Beasley (starter SF), Scola (PF), Gortat (C), Kendal Marshal (backup PG), Jermain O'Neil and Haddai (backup C), Tucker Wesley Johnson,Dudley...
Gortat got injured and sat for half of the season and when he played he was actually outplayed by aging O'Neil. Shannon Brown was out of NBA soon after that year, Beasley was paid next year to stop playing for the Suns, that's how bad he was. Kendal Marshall is barely hanging on to his place in the NBA.
The only good thing about that year were Goran Dragic and PJ Tucker.

Pre-all star even Goran Dragic played badly, well average, but average is still bad. His numbers were 14 p per game, 45% FG, 31% from 3 and 6 assists. In the middle of the year Phoenix Suns coach was replaced with Lindsey Hunter, who didn't know anything about coaching, but he did give Goran more freedom in running the team.

After All-star break Dragic averaged 16 p per game, 45% FG, 33% from 3 and 9.5 assists. He became a double double machine for the rest of the year. Which is impressive since the only two people on that team who could shot were Luis Scola and Dudley.

Some videos ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nIkXkksqg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOz_3s7VJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdBcMsTaDc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0PNoOQW-c

In 2013/14 Dragic played on a new level, he lead a team that most thought was set up to tank, to a 48 win record in the West (that would be 3rd best record in the east), just one win out of playoff spot. He averaged 20 pt per game, 6 assists, 50% FG and 40% from 3. He was the first player after Hornacek and Drazen in the 90is who put up 20, 50%, 40% in a year. Phoenix Suns overachived that year mostly beacuse of good cemistry and all the players rising up to a new level. The second best player on that team was Bledsoe, who got injured in December and didn't played in about 40+ games. The rest of the team: PJ Tucker (SF, 3 and D guy), Channing Fry (streacth 4, haden't played basketball for more than a year beacuse of hart problems), Miles Plumlee (C, played 55 minutes a year before) and Gerald Green (SG, after bledsoe got injured, played in D-league year before). That was a starting team that won 48 wins, almost har to believe.
The Phoenix Suns didn't collect wins by defeating bad teams, they played the best against strong teams: Defeated Portland 3 times, OKC 2 times, Pacers 2 times (that was when the Pacers only had 1 defeat in a season, before they collapsed), Golden State, Clippers and so on..

Dragic won second player of the week that year by beating out Durant, who was averaging like 30+ pt per game at that moment. Dragic lead his team to 4-0 week, putting up around 26 points, on 70% FG and 70% in 3s.
In that year Dragic had 4 or 5 ankle injuries, which probably was the reason that he couldn't do more to get the Suns in to playoffs.
Dragic won MIP player that year and became 3rd Team ALL NBA, he should've been second team. He also should have been All-star and the reason why he wasn't was Adam Silver putting Anthony Davis in as a replacement, because the game was in New Orleans.
Phoenix Suns lead by Dragic were in 6 or 7 playoff spot at the time, with a record of 11 game over 500., the Pelicans weren't even close to playoffs leaded by Davis and with a record less than 500. I thought winning is rewarded in the NBA, but I guess not.

Some videos ->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDkGoT66P_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wof5Z_CnUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPAU-39LJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkCxyHgxv2I (look at reaction on the bench at 0:40)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyzR272_Xcs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dghERIRLqp8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcySjhEEfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lCmwB_ZeRU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFm6FbIBiKw (Curry watching Dragic from the bench in the 4th quarter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TMtlkGbsWY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-nLmJIRqug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_1JeCfrnY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rOyzvy2I5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrTo23K3Kw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsRQjGMtXFE

Videos of Gerald Greeen and Miles Plumlee dunks + some of Goran's assists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExXljP7SkbU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBFvcB7Hjo

2014/15 Goran was pushed to SG position, because of Eric Bledsoe and Thomas. One of the best PG's in the league played the same amount of time SF as he did PG, which is just ridiculous. His usage rate in most games was like 5 or 6 on the team. Situation where your best player is forced to play out of position and his usage rate is lower then some of the players from the bench, you just know there's something wrong.
Goran's stats dropped because of that, he was even forced to guard SF who were bigger and stronger then him.
Goran also won his 3rd player of the week this year.

He demanded trade and got traded to MIami Heat. I will point out, that Goran himself said that the only team on his list was Miami Heat, no LA or Knicks. That list was made up by some reporters and everybody just went with it. Goran Dragic also never said publicly that he wants max contract, that was reported by some journalist from LA and again everybody started claiming he wants max. I am sure he wants a big pay raise, since this is probably his only big pay day in career.
SInce there's a debate on the forum about how much is Goran worth, I think that fair offer for both sides would be 18 M per year.
Goran doesn't care that much about money, he just wants to be happy playing the game he loves the way he loves it. I even remember how Rockets fans made fun of Goran, because of a picture from his apartment where he had a Dynex brand TV. It was funny to them that he doesn't have a better TV. Goran is not about the money, he's a modest guy.

Ok now I list some of his weaknesses, mistakes that he makes:

-he loses sight of his man on defence sometimes, this happens in moments when he watches position of others players, so a player he is covering gets a step on him
-he could be better in fighting through screens
- good team defender, he isn't great defender, definitely not a liability on defense
- average rebounder for PG
-to much of a team first guy, which is usually good, but Goran too often gets into submissive mode and lets lesser players make plays and decisions when he should be demanding the ball (his greatest mistake by my opinion)

For the end I will just say this -> If Miami Heat want the best of Goran, they need to let him run the team. Wade will still be the number one as it should be, but he shouldn't be running the team. Goran can do everything with the ball, he's got excellent mid range jumper, stepback, he can go to rim (70% at the rim), can shout 3s, can set up open looks, he's a great clutch player.
He makes the players around him better, which is what you want from PG. Give him the ball and Miami will be in a finals next year.

[RexBoyWonder]

Damn brother. Good job, good effort, great breakdown.

I loved the Dragic trade and think we paid a reasonably good price to get him, His high character also plays a part of why he's a quality addition. Everything about him tells me he's more into winning then getting absolutely the most cash he can. I have no doubt we keep him on a good contract.

He had a unique career path and IMO his Body is fresher then most 29Yo, he's more hungry and just his natural state is one of a fierce competitor and a very nice and likeable guy. Those things get lost on some fans but they play a crucial role in winning teams.

[leonzfunk]

Great write up!

Love Goran's game, but I'm definitely more in love with not watching Chalmers dribble it off his foot. His speed and efficient game is the main draw and those passes are slick, just slick. Can't wait for the season to start.

[DayofMourning]

That has to be a record for longest first post. Easily.

[puppa bear]

That has to be a record for longest first post. Easily.

I second that! And if by some fluke it's not, then it has to be the longest first post by a self-confessed non-basketball fan! Damn good work there!

[Bishop45]

I'll try my best to go thru it, good job OP

[Seabass777]

Great post man.

So glad we were able to bring Goran Dragic to Miami,he's a top point guard in this league no question.

[Bishop45]

It wasn't as long as I thought, good stuff tho

[HIF]

I read the first 2 sentences.

[KingDavid]

Goran will run the offense with Bosh, no need to worry about that. He definitely needs a stretch big to operate and he has two in Bosh and McBob.

[contract]

First let me introduce myself, I am a supporter of Goran Dragic from Slovenia. I use the word supporter instead of fan, because I'm not really that into basketball, it's mostly occasional entertainment for me. Goran gives me more incentive to watch NBA games, you could say it gives me more off a personal connection to the game.
OK, the reason for me writing this is, because I would like to give you an insight into what kind of a player Goran is and so you Miami Heat fans get more off a complete picture of him. Obviously I'm a little biased, but I will try to show you both side of Goran, the good and the less good. I also added links in which you can see how Dragic developed, his signature moves, clutch plays and so on...
Before I start let me apologize in advance for any mistake I made writing this, English isn't my first language and I am a bit rusty.

Spoiler:

About Goran Dragic career (ps. this may be a long post, so my bad)

I first saw Goran Dragic play, when he started playing for Slovenian national team and for Union Olimpija (who was at that time solid Euroleague basketball club). Right from the start it was apparent that he will be great player. The most memorable impression from that period is from European basketball championship, where he played great, especially against France and Tony Parker. His great games weren't noticed just by me, the Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr also mentioned that his performance against Tony Parker was part od the reason why they drafted him (officially it was drafted with 45 pick by Spurs, but on a request of Steve Kerr).

First year in the NBA was really bad for Goran, he didn't play a lot, he didn't have the confidence and his shooting wasn't that good. He was even given the nickname Tragic by some st.... reporter and labeled one of the worst NBA players. Even though he strugeled, he wasn't that bad for a rookie point gard from Europe.

In the second year is where Goran Dragic hatched and became the Dragon. In that year (2009/2010) he was labeled by the Phoenix Suns fans as the best backup Steve Nash ever had. Steve Nash became his mentor and a friend to Goran Dragic. By the way Steve Nash was Gorans favourite player to watch in the NBA, while he was growing up. In that year Goran almost doubled his points per game, played in 80 games, shot 45% FG (6% better than year before) and 39% from 3. In that year the Phoenix Suns reached WCF and lost to the Lakers 4-2 (Lakers became the champions that year). I am not sure, but I think Goran was also recognized as the second best bench player for that year and Phoenix bench was the best bench in the NBA (also fun to watch, high energy guys).

Some links, that show Gorans moves from that year, that he still uses, just that he refined them through the years
and also what he learned from Steve Nash. Videos against the Lakers are from the playoffs->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHPpGv7-js
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZEPw2AT8g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbId8Hdw6As
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfBUz7ZL1FU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmdtinDBib4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_-2b3vpnW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPeoPWlUlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beIdSArsC8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCw5HLB_nI

Goran didn't disappear in the playoffs like most young players. On the big stage he was on fire.

The best games was a game 3 against Spurs where he scored 26 points (23 in the fourth quarter). But the most impressive thing wasn't the 26 points, but the way he got them. He took over in the 4 quarter and only stopped when the game was over. Spurs with all the great players and Popovich, were just spectators in their own arena.

Links ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G5mv713WA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNGMEqW4psE

The next year he was traded, because he didn't play on the same/higher level as the previous year. A lot of that was, because some bench guys were traded and replacement weren't exactly good players. Phoenix Suns were far from the team, that almost won the title. Steve Kerr left the position of GM that year and since then the Phoenix Suns didn't make the playoffs. Dragic was traded for Brooks, to the Rockets, to be a backup for Lowry. Brooks played poorly for Phoenix and later went and play in China. Phoenix Suns also send a first round pick with Dragic to Rockets, A disastrous trade for Phoenix.

With Rockets, Dragic got his opportunity, when Lowry got an infection in the second half of the 2011/2012 season. He started in about 30 games (shortened season) and produced about 18 points (13 APG) and 8 assists per game as a starter (49% FG, 37% for 3). He was the main reason that the Rockets even came close to the playoffs. Rockets were in the playoff position all up to the last few games, whenLowry returned and kind of ruined chemistry and rotation. There are some people who would say Goran wasn't even good enough to lead his team to the playoff. Of Course those people won't mention that Rockets were plagued with injuries, Lowry out(PG), Kevin Martin (SG avg 20 pt per game) out and some other players I don't remember. Just to give you a better picture in how difficult situation Rockets were, I will list players who were healthy and in rotation: Luis Scola (best player after Dragic, at the time still good), Camby, Chandler Parsons (his rookie year), David Lee and backup for Dragic was Boykins (one off the smallest players in the NBA) + some other bench players I don't remember.
To me that's not WC playoff team, yet they got close and played really good under Dragic leading the show.

Dragic also won his first player of the week award as a starter for the Rockets.

Some videos ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi9beelAZSY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOCya6TEgZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbQ8Jcv_QX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEOlxGQ60n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP-b5BuyJjI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6KbiJOftg4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9ghl3szJpA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYb_qcCRcY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjK8IwKss5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdLiIZCSpB0

Dragic became a free agent after that and went back to Phoenix, to be a successor to Steve Nash. Lowry got traded and Jeremy Lin was Dragic and Lowry replacement. Jeremy Lin didn't exatly perform as expected and was exually payed more then Dragic and Lowry, who both played better than him.

2012/13 Phoenix Suns were an awful team, mostly because of the poorly constructed rooster and lack of team chemistry. To give you an example what I mean by badly constructed, I'll list some players who players who played for the Suns: Shannon Brown (starter SG), Beasley (starter SF), Scola (PF), Gortat (C), Kendal Marshal (backup PG), Jermain O'Neil and Haddai (backup C), Tucker Wesley Johnson,Dudley...
Gortat got injured and sat for half of the season and when he played he was actually outplayed by aging O'Neil. Shannon Brown was out of NBA soon after that year, Beasley was paid next year to stop playing for the Suns, that's how bad he was. Kendal Marshall is barely hanging on to his place in the NBA.
The only good thing about that year were Goran Dragic and PJ Tucker.

Pre-all star even Goran Dragic played badly, well average, but average is still bad. His numbers were 14 p per game, 45% FG, 31% from 3 and 6 assists. In the middle of the year Phoenix Suns coach was replaced with Lindsey Hunter, who didn't know anything about coaching, but he did give Goran more freedom in running the team.

After All-star break Dragic averaged 16 p per game, 45% FG, 33% from 3 and 9.5 assists. He became a double double machine for the rest of the year. Which is impressive since the only two people on that team who could shot were Luis Scola and Dudley.

Some videos ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3nIkXkksqg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOz_3s7VJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdBcMsTaDc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0PNoOQW-c

In 2013/14 Dragic played on a new level, he lead a team that most thought was set up to tank, to a 48 win record in the West (that would be 3rd best record in the east), just one win out of playoff spot. He averaged 20 pt per game, 6 assists, 50% FG and 40% from 3. He was the first player after Hornacek and Drazen in the 90is who put up 20, 50%, 40% in a year. Phoenix Suns overachived that year mostly beacuse of good cemistry and all the players rising up to a new level. The second best player on that team was Bledsoe, who got injured in December and didn't played in about 40+ games. The rest of the team: PJ Tucker (SF, 3 and D guy), Channing Fry (streacth 4, haden't played basketball for more than a year beacuse of hart problems), Miles Plumlee (C, played 55 minutes a year before) and Gerald Green (SG, after bledsoe got injured, played in D-league year before). That was a starting team that won 48 wins, almost har to believe.
The Phoenix Suns didn't collect wins by defeating bad teams, they played the best against strong teams: Defeated Portland 3 times, OKC 2 times, Pacers 2 times (that was when the Pacers only had 1 defeat in a season, before they collapsed), Golden State, Clippers and so on..

Dragic won second player of the week that year by beating out Durant, who was averaging like 30+ pt per game at that moment. Dragic lead his team to 4-0 week, putting up around 26 points, on 70% FG and 70% in 3s.
In that year Dragic had 4 or 5 ankle injuries, which probably was the reason that he couldn't do more to get the Suns in to playoffs.
Dragic won MIP player that year and became 3rd Team ALL NBA, he should've been second team. He also should have been All-star and the reason why he wasn't was Adam Silver putting Anthony Davis in as a replacement, because the game was in New Orleans.
Phoenix Suns lead by Dragic were in 6 or 7 playoff spot at the time, with a record of 11 game over 500., the Pelicans weren't even close to playoffs leaded by Davis and with a record less than 500. I thought winning is rewarded in the NBA, but I guess not.

Some videos ->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDkGoT66P_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wof5Z_CnUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPAU-39LJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkCxyHgxv2I (look at reaction on the bench at 0:40)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyzR272_Xcs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dghERIRLqp8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcySjhEEfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lCmwB_ZeRU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFm6FbIBiKw (Curry watching Dragic from the bench in the 4th quarter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TMtlkGbsWY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-nLmJIRqug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_1JeCfrnY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rOyzvy2I5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrTo23K3Kw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsRQjGMtXFE

Videos of Gerald Greeen and Miles Plumlee dunks + some of Goran's assists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExXljP7SkbU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBFvcB7Hjo

2014/15 Goran was pushed to SG position, because of Eric Bledsoe and Thomas. One of the best PG's in the league played the same amount of time SF as he did PG, which is just ridiculous. His usage rate in most games was like 5 or 6 on the team. Situation where your best player is forced to play out of position and his usage rate is lower then some of the players from the bench, you just know there's something wrong.
Goran's stats dropped because of that, he was even forced to guard SF who were bigger and stronger then him.
Goran also won his 3rd player of the week this year.

He demanded trade and got traded to MIami Heat. I will point out, that Goran himself said that the only team on his list was Miami Heat, no LA or Knicks. That list was made up by some reporters and everybody just went with it. Goran Dragic also never said publicly that he wants max contract, that was reported by some journalist from LA and again everybody started claiming he wants max. I am sure he wants a big pay raise, since this is probably his only big pay day in career.
SInce there's a debate on the forum about how much is Goran worth, I think that fair offer for both sides would be 18 M per year.
Goran doesn't care that much about money, he just wants to be happy playing the game he loves the way he loves it. I even remember how Rockets fans made fun of Goran, because of a picture from his apartment where he had a Dynex brand TV. It was funny to them that he doesn't have a better TV. Goran is not about the money, he's a modest guy.

Ok now I list some of his weaknesses, mistakes that he makes:

-he loses sight of his man on defence sometimes, this happens in moments when he watches position of others players, so a player he is covering gets a step on him
-he could be better in fighting through screens
- good team defender, he isn't great defender, definitely not a liability on defense
- average rebounder for PG
-to much of a team first guy, which is usually good, but Goran too often gets into submissive mode and lets lesser players make plays and decisions when he should be demanding the ball (his greatest mistake by my opinion)

For the end I will just say this -> If Miami Heat want the best of Goran, they need to let him run the team. Wade will still be the number one as it should be, but he shouldn't be running the team. Goran can do everything with the ball, he's got excellent mid range jumper, stepback, he can go to rim (70% at the rim), can shout 3s, can set up open looks, he's a great clutch player.
He makes the players around him better, which is what you want from PG. Give him the ball and Miami will be in a finals next year.

First of all, your English is fine. It's better than mine, and English is my first language.

And Goran Dragic doesn't owe anyone an apology for whatever his contract demands are. Players have a right to every dime they can get. You don't have to look very far for examples of why taking less than you can get is a bad idea. If he's not asking for a max contract, he should be.

[greg4012]

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

I'm excited to see Dragic next year with a firm grasp of the offense (hopefully a faster paced one more catered to his style).

While Wade and Dragic have some nice chemistry playing together, I have maintained the belief that the way to get the most out of our roster is to limit their time together on the court and have it so that one of them 2 is always in the game. We need a legit offensive playmaker on the floor at all times, which should be Dragic or Wade. Assuming each of them play around 30 mpg, that means each of them get to play around 18 mpg as the sole ballhandler running the offense and 12 minutes together.

I really hope Dragic is allowed to be our primary initiator next season.

[QUIZ]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1oxzKne4P8[/youtube]

[Paz]

Well written and much appreciated post! If you begin your career as an NBA fan I hope that you're a HEAT fan. Welcome.

[goodboy]

Fight4 and that Duke fan that talked about Winslow time in HS/College are the real MVPs!

Oh and excellent read, real informative!

[gom]

So glad we made the trade for Goran!

[insfo]

So glad we made the trade for Goran!

I got a scare for a second thinking this was an appreciation thread since we traded Goran!! Way to dig up something from 6 years ago Gom.

And KD hyping up McBob