Lakers Rumors: Suns PG Goran Dragic In Play?
Goran Dragic could become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the Los Angeles Lakers should pursue
The Los Angeles Lakers rumors are always being flung around, but the possibility of bringing in Goran Dragic seems more feasible each day. Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported that Dragic is interested in having an open free agency and is willing to shop around.
Dragic is among a glut of point guards on the Suns and while he hasn’t expressed any distaste for the sharing of minutes, he’s not performing at the level that earned him All-NBA third team just a year ago. After a slow start, the 6-foot-4 Slovenian is now averaging 15.6 points, 3.2 assists and a steal after averaging 20.3 points, 5.9 assists and 1.4 steals in a more featured role in 2013-14.
The Suns have been aware of this potential for a while — even going so far as to bring Goran’s brother Zoran Dragic to the team. Goran mentioned his intent to opt-out last summer, but it was assumed it would be so that he could re-sign with Phoenix for more money. Brett Pollakoff of NBC Sports wonders if that situation has changed.
There’s no question that the Lakers have been searching for a quality point guard for years. Steve Nash didn’t turn out as planned. Jeremy Lin hasn’t taken the reins as the Lakers had hoped. Since they’ll have around $30 million to spend, why not go after Dragic?
| Season | Age | Tm | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 22 | PHO | 55 | 13.2 | .393 | .370 | .400 | .769 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 4.5 |
| 2009-10 | 23 | PHO | 80 | 18.0 | .452 | .394 | .488 | .736 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 7.9 |
| 2010-11 | 24 | TOT | 70 | 17.6 | .435 | .361 | .476 | .624 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 7.5 |
| 2010-11 | 24 | PHO | 48 | 17.8 | .421 | .277 | .488 | .608 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 7.4 |
| 2010-11 | 24 | HOU | 22 | 17.2 | .472 | .519 | .437 | .667 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 7.7 |
| 2011-12 | 25 | HOU | 66 | 26.5 | .462 | .337 | .525 | .805 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 11.7 |
| 2012-13 | 26 | PHO | 77 | 33.5 | .443 | .319 | .497 | .748 | 3.1 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 14.7 |
| 2013-14 | 27 | PHO | 76 | 35.1 | .505 | .408 | .542 | .760 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 20.3 |
| 2014-15 | 28 | PHO | 11 | 32.5 | .475 | .324 | .529 | .867 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 15.6 |
| Career | 435 | 24.7 | .462 | .363 | .506 | .750 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 11.6 | ||
| 6 seasons | PHO | 347 | 24.9 | .461 | .360 | .505 | .743 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 11.8 | |
| 2 seasons | HOU | 88 | 24.2 | .463 | .375 | .512 | .783 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 10.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/19/2014.
Goran is not a Nash-type point guard. He’s not the kind of guy who’s going to make those around him better because of his passing ability. However, he is the kind of tough, quality point guard who is efficient, affable and a great fit on a team with a superstar. He’s a good shooter, a great finisher at the basket and is absolutely fearless in the open court.
Throughout his time in Phoenix — through good and bad — Dragic has always held his head high and hasn’t had a bad thing to say. He’s experienced in international basketball and has played in plenty of high-pressure situations, so the media circus in Los Angeles wouldn’t be a deterrent to him.
The point guard market isn’t impressive next summer — save for Rajon Rondo — who is more of the Nash mold of guard who is interested in getting teammates shots. It comes down to what kind of point guard the Lakers want and whether Dragic remains happy as a part of the Suns’ Point Guardians of the Galaxy.