Suns looking to deal Goran Dragic
— -- The Phoenix Suns will try to move star guard Goran Dragic before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline after Dragic's representatives informed the team Tuesday that Dragic does not plan to re-sign this summer, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns are resigned to try to strike a deal before the deadline with a team Dragic is prepared to re-sign with in order to avoid losing their All-NBA point guard in July without compensation.
USA Today earlier reported Tuesday night that Dragic's agent, Bill Duffy, informed the Suns that he intends to sign elsewhere as a free agent this offseason, no longer willing to share a backcourt with Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas.
ESPN.com reported last week that the Suns ?were trying to trade Thomas in part to try to appease Dragic. But Dragic's stance leaves Phoenix with little choice but to explore every option to try to make a deal for him.
ESPN.com also reported last week that the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers were at the front of the line already trying to coerce the Suns into dealing Dragic, even before Phoenix had been able to get a clear indication from the 28-year-old about his future plans.
But sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that Dragic has little interest in signing a long-term deal with the Rockets, who would thus likely be unwilling to surrender the needed assets this week to get a Dragic deal done.
The Lakers and New York Knicks, sources said, are destinations that highly intrigue Dragic, given that both teams desperately need a point guard and will have loads of cap space to offer him. Only the Suns can offer Dragic a five-year deal for now, but any team that trades for Dragic this week would inherit his Larry Bird rights and the ability to offer a five-year contract come July.
If no trade materializes, Dragic would head to free agency seeking a four-year max deal from the likes of the Lakers, Knicks and Miami Heat that, based on the latest estimates in circulation, could reach the $80 million range.
The list of teams interested in Dragic stretches well into double digits, but it remains to be seen how willing teams beyond those on the Slovenian's short list are to presented trade scenarios that appeal to Phoenix. Although it would certainly be risky to keep Dragic on the roster beyond Thursday's deadline, it certainly wouldn't be unprecedented, given that only Phoenix -- in that scenario -- could offer him a five-year contract in the summer.
It's likewise well-known around the league that the Lakers, Knicks and Heat are all limited in terms of coveted trade assets, which only complicates the process further for the Suns as Thursday's deadline approaches.
In the wake of a breakout 2013-14 campaign in which he won NBA Most Improved Player honors and a was an All-NBA Third Team selection, Dragic has been forced to play off the ball frequently -- together with Bledsoe and Thomas at times -- and is averaging just 16.2 points and 4.1 assists. Last season, Dragic averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists.
Shortly before the start of the season, Phoenix signed Dragic's brother, Zoran, in an attempt to the make the older Dragic even more comfortable in the desert, but Zoran Dragic has struggled to earn minutes as a rookie.
The 29-25 Suns, meanwhile, lost seven of 10 games heading into the All-Star break and have seen their lead over Oklahoma City for the West's final playoff spot whittled to one game.
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