Suns' Goran Dragic plans to opt out in 2015, sign new deal
With the 2014 offseason mostly wrapped up, the basketball world has already turned its attention to 2015 free agents.
One of those potential free agents, Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic, doesn't plan to be on the market very long. Dragic, who has a $7.5-million player option for the 2015-16 season, plans to opt out of that year in order to sign a new long-term deal with the Suns, he told reporters recently.
"It is still too early," he said in Slovenian. "I have a very interesting position with the club. I'll probably break the contract and sign a new one ... immediately, during the first week when the market opens. Sign, and therefore, I will be calm."
The collective bargaining agreement is such that this move makes financial sense for Dragic so long as he doesn't suffer an injury at some point this season. His market value is surely higher than $7.5 million per year, but the Suns can only offer a raise of 7.5 percent on a contract extention. By first opting out to negotiate a new deal, Dragic can secure a higher starting salary and more long-term security.
The Suns probably won't have much issue with a raise for Dragic, who has emerged as one of the league's best offensive point guards. Last season, the 28-year-old averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent of threes, capably sharing the floor with Eric Bledsoe and acting as an extension of head coach Jeff Hornacek on the court.
[Dap Bright Side of the Sun]