Goran Dragic on the Suns:

[gaspar]

In all these quotes Dragic basically admits what we already knew, that he cares about the spotlight and money more than he cares about winning basketball games. McDonough said it perfectly after the deadline:

“If a player makes a mistake because he’s being too aggressive on the court and playing hard, that’s fine, we can live with that. If players don’t play as well or make mistakes because they’re being a little more selfish and not as concerned about the team success, then that’s something we have a hard time with. I think the message was pretty simple. Anybody that buys into our culture, does what it takes to win and sacrifices for the team, will be here, hopefully for a long time.The guys that are more worried about other things and their top priority is not winning basketball games, then we’ll get rid of them. We have no problem doing that.”

Good riddance.

[Wildlinger]

But again, please explain why if Goran hated differing the point responsibilities, why did he he do it, both here and in Miami?

Dragic clearly said he didn't have a problem sharing the ball with Bledsoe during the 13-14 season. He explicitly said that this season became a problem when he had to play off ball almost exclusively. He had the ball in his possession 40% less than in his All NBA season. That's a drastic change from the 2 PG system he was used to.

[Wildlinger]

As for Zoran, I would love to hear why he refused to go to the DLeague with us, but had no problem doing it in Miami.

Man I was wrong advocating for us to get Zoran.

I was extremely confused about Zoran signing as well. It just didn't make any sense considering the guard situation in Phoenix. Zoran never refused to go to the D-League in Phoenix. The Suns gave him a choice to stay with the team or go to the D-League. It's preposterous to claim a rookie can dictate to the front office if he goes to the D-League or not.

Miami didn't give that same choice to Zoran so he went to the D-League like he was instructed to do.

[RunDogGun]

This whole thread is Goran publicly complaining, do I really need to give a link? And please tell me you think "they made a fool out of me" as a complaint. If not, then I'm done, Goran is in the right in your mind, and the team is in the wrong.

You clearly insinuated that Dragic was complaining publicly before the trade. The particular comment you're mentioning was made after the trade, as I clearly indicated in my 1st post.

I didn't insinuate anything, you assumed. I simply said he publicly complained, which he did.

[RunDogGun]

But again, please explain why if Goran hated differing the point responsibilities, why did he he do it, both here and in Miami?

Dragic clearly said he didn't have a problem sharing the ball with Bledsoe during the 13-14 season. He explicitly said that this season became a problem when he had to play off ball almost exclusively. He had the ball in his possession 40% less than in his All NBA season. That's a drastic change from the 2 PG system he was used to.

But that's not true either, because your link talks about Goran complaining or concerned, and had a meeting with the FO, before the season even started.

Overall, Goran's stats are almost identical between our team this season and Miami, even usage. Although his free throw attempt and percentage went up, attempts went up greatly. Maybe that was IT's fault?

As for Zoran and the DLeague, it was just an option for us? So he didn't take the option? Please provide the link. Or did we ask him, and he said no? Or no thank you?

[Revived]

As for Zoran, I would love to hear why he refused to go to the DLeague with us, but had no problem doing it in Miami.

Man I was wrong advocating for us to get Zoran.

When did Zoran refuse to go to the D league for the Suns? Link?

[Wildlinger]

In all these quotes Dragic basically admits what we already knew, that he cares about the spotlight and money more than he cares about winning basketball games. McDonough said it perfectly after the deadline:

“If a player makes a mistake because he’s being too aggressive on the court and playing hard, that’s fine, we can live with that. If players don’t play as well or make mistakes because they’re being a little more selfish and not as concerned about the team success, then that’s something we have a hard time with. I think the message was pretty simple. Anybody that buys into our culture, does what it takes to win and sacrifices for the team, will be here, hopefully for a long time.The guys that are more worried about other things and their top priority is not winning basketball games, then we’ll get rid of them. We have no problem doing that.”

Good riddance.

I wonder why Bledsoe didn't have to sacrifice anything at all? The Suns rolled out the red carpet for him after he was traded to Phoenix and never looked back. Yet McD seems to expect that a "de facto" face of the franchise sacrifices a great deal in his contract year without any guarantees that he will stay with the team. If Dragic trusted McD (and Babby) to do right by him in the upcoming free agency he would have stayed, but the trust obviously wasn't there. He recognized Bled was McD's guy and wasn't willing to sacrifice that much and possibly not even make the playoffs. Seems quite logical to me.

Sacrificing on a championship contender is quite different from sacrificing on a team that might not even make the playoffs.

I wish Dragic would have been more patient, but considering the circumstances I can't blame him because he wasn't.

[RunDogGun]

Red carpet? Is this really a "poor Goran" thread like I initially thought? And you keep speaking as if you personally know what people were thinking. How is that?

[Wildlinger]

But again, please explain why if Goran hated differing the point responsibilities, why did he he do it, both here and in Miami?

Dragic clearly said he didn't have a problem sharing the ball with Bledsoe during the 13-14 season. He explicitly said that this season became a problem when he had to play off ball almost exclusively. He had the ball in his possession 40% less than in his All NBA season. That's a drastic change from the 2 PG system he was used to.

But that's not true either, because your link talks about Goran complaining or concerned, and had a meeting with the FO, before the season even started.

Ugh, you're quite frustrating, buddy. I clearly wrote that Dragic liked playing with Bledsoe during the 13-14 season (at least that's what he publicly said in different interviews). In this interview reporter asked him directly (last question):

http://www.kosarka.si/goran-dragic-v-nba-te-cenijo-po-visini-pogodbe/

When did things start to go bad for you?

This season (14-15)...

Than he goes on with a similar answer which I already posted in my 1st post.

As for Zoran and the DLeague, it was just an option for us? So he didn't take the option? Please provide the link. Or did we ask him, and he said no? Or no thank you?

http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/kosarka/zoran-dragic-ko-igram-za-reprezentanco-res-uzivam/364986

To tell you the truth I really didn't want to play in the D-League. GM in Phoenix gave me a choice to go to the D-League or to stay with the team. They didn't give me a choice in Miami. They told me I have to get some playing time so I just looked at the situation as a new challenge in my career.

[bwgood77]

Yes, I think McD was likely trying to trade him much earlier but didn't get any bites....or didn't want to accept what was being offered...and by the time he had reached an agreement, Dragic was fed up. It would have been nice if Dragic had been a bit more patient, but I understand. If you're not happy in your job, you should move on to a place that's a better fit for you.

I'm glad he told them he wanted to be traded and made it known where he would like to play. That's likely why we were able to get two first round picks for a guy that could leave us this summer because Miami felt assured he was likely to re-sign.

I'm not sure who leaked the list, but that probably helped increase the offer as well if they thought they had to bid higher to get him.

But giving the list two days before the trade deadline wouldn't help negotiations, it would hurt it. It officially eliminated any offers from teams not named Miami, LAL, and NY. We may have received more from other teams, that may have taken the chance on resigning him. I mean we just talked about Marion cock blocking the Wolves trade.

But we don't know the other offers, so we can only speculate.

But again, if he was so upset with differing point responsibilities, why differ them to Wade once he got to Miami? He ended up playing the same role. Moreover, he knew we would try and resign Bledsoe, so he would still be in the same spot. Now if we started IT, Bledsoe, and Goran, I could see his point, and that would be a drastic role change, but we didn't use that lineup often. And when we did, all the guards had touches. The main problem came from inconsistent play from both Bledsoe and Goran, which gave IT the thought that he could steal a starting job.

No I don't think we would have gotten a better offer than that for a guy that would leave somewhere else. I don't even think Miami would have given up that much unless they knew that's where he wanted to be.

Wade has obviously learned to play off ball and rests a lot. Dragic said he liked playing with Bledsoe last year, but playing the 3 and rarely handling the ball and guarding wings obviously got old. But ultimately he just didn't trust the front office, and I don't blame him.

[Wildlinger]

Red carpet? Is this really a "poor Goran" thread like I initially thought? And you keep speaking as if you personally know what people were thinking. How is that?

I just thought some new information on a trade deadline which might have drastically changed the course of the franchise (at least in the near future) might be interesting to fans.

I reported the info available in different interviews and didn't write what "people" are thinking. I just wrote what "people" actually said.

[RaisingArizona]

Go play singles tennis, Goran if all you care about is stats. We were a winning team 30-22 before you had to have your pouting session. You all are beating a dead horse anyways.

[b-ball forever]

Thanks to his trade request Dragic is now in Miami where he'll likely get that max contract he wanted, and that McDonut isn't stupid enuf to pay off. We also got some assets instead of him walking for nothing, and Dragic will have an easier time in the weaker eastern conf so it all worked out for the best.

That said, Dragic is in exactly the same role as the off-guard next to Wade and Chalmers, and the Suns DID wind up trading IT like they said they would, so he should stick with working on his off-ball game, defense, and patience instead of bitching and back-tracking.

[bwgood77]

Go play singles tennis, Goran if all you care about is stats. We were a winning team 30-22 before you had to have your pouting session. You all are beating a dead horse anyways.

Yes, this horse has certainly been beaten to a pulp. It's nice to see any news related to the Suns since there isn't much going on these days, but we don't necessarily need another combative argument on the subject.

[RunDogGun]

Red carpet? Is this really a "poor Goran" thread like I initially thought? And you keep speaking as if you personally know what people were thinking. How is that?

I just thought some new information on a trade deadline which might have drastically changed the course of the franchise (at least in the near future) might be interesting to fans.

I reported the info available in different interviews and didn't write what "people" are thinking. I just wrote what "people" actually said.

Which player said they rolled out the red carpet for Bledsoe?

I could see that you think I'm being difficult, but you seem to fall back to whatever Goran said is truth. Goran is to blame for his bad play. Many times in the season he just didn't try very hard (I think Bledsoe did the same thing in a few games, and sometimes in play). This opened the door for IT to try and win the starting spot. I think once all three guards were signed, I think the competition would drive the three to greatness. It didn't work out that way. Two guys publicly complained, and the one that didn't, is still in a Suns uniform.

You also gloss over Goran getting that tech, which he was arguing a ref call. While he may have had a legit gripe with the call or lack of call, we get the short end of the stick way too often, he knew the team rule, and the consequence. Plus, he was playing terribly that game. But instead you blame the Morri. Which is fine, that's your opinion.

This whole thread smells like a fan boy crying for Goran. We already went through this. Goran didn't play his best this season, and moving teams and roles didn't change anything. Goran often differed point responsibilities both here and in Miami, willingly.

There is no new news here, just another scab being pulled off and claims that it tastes good.

[kennydorglas]

'Poor Goran' threads makes me sad.
Good luck for him and have fun being outplayed by Mario '****' Chalmers.

[saintEscaton]

Confirmed: Goran Tragic is an entitled crybaby. Nothing to see here folks, move along

[saintEscaton]

Obviously both sides are to be blamed here for the bad blood and lack of professionalism. The FO royally screwed the pooch with its offseason moves/promotional "Three-Headed Hydra" marketing gimmick and dug its own grave as McDuh desperately resorted to making asinine statements and character assasination of Dragic to save face. Of course Dragic stuck us in the back in order to force his hand by intentionally sabotaging his value as as trade commodity by publcially discolosing the list of his preferred big market destinations that he would exclusively re-sign with during the most inopportune time during the peak of the trade deadline, thereby squashing any leverage the FO might have had in getting the best possible deal. As for Zoran who cares? He's a career scrub destined to ride the p;ine with his big bro, the only reason he's on an NBA bench rather than languishing in the DLeague is because fraternal nepotism. He was brought in to sweeten the deal for Goran and was packaged along with him to entice him to stay with the Heat. And it was all about the moola and limelight for Goran, the Lakers were probably his number 1 option he could still bolt to this summer and he wants to be given the keys to a franchise even though he can't live up to the billing. The window of opportunity is closing fast for the Heat with old man DWade standing on his last knees demanding a crippling paycheck, a recovering yet hobbled Bosh with a few prime years left in him and a hotheaded who they may not be able to financially commit to retaining. That shows you how serious he is about going to a "contender".

[letsgosuns]

I do not care what Dragic said then or now. My biggest disappointment was his play last season. He had an extreme drop off in play. In 2013-14 he was awesome and played like an all star as he made 3rd team All NBA. Last season he looked like a completely different player. Slower, much less aggressive, and overmatched on defense. He used to be able to blow by anyone. It seemed like he could not get past any defenders last year. I still think it was because of exhaustion stemming from his offseason play with the Slovenian national team. Regardless, he was an average point guard last year at best and definitely not someone worthy of a max contract or anything near that.

[Blackification]

Thanks to his trade request Dragic is now in Miami where he'll likely get that max contract he wanted, and that McDonut isn't stupid enuf to pay off. We also got some assets instead of him walking for nothing, and Dragic will have an easier time in the weaker eastern conf so it all worked out for the best.

That said, Dragic is in exactly the same role as the off-guard next to Wade and Chalmers, and the Suns DID wind up trading IT like they said they would, so he should stick with working on his off-ball game, defense, and patience instead of bitching and back-tracking.

Couldn't agree with you more. He was practically in the same role in Miami as he was here, the money and the spotlight had a lot more to do with it than he would like to admit. Easy for him to pull the victim card and it still doesn't explain him going public with the trade request if he really cared about helping the suns with a trade.