Report: Suns seeking young player, at least one 1st-rounder for Dragic
Goran Dragic has a list of preferred destinations, but that doesn't mean the Phoenix Suns are going to abide by that list in their quest to find a suitable trade partner.
When reports emerged Tuesday that Dragic had informed the Suns he wasn't interested in re-signing this summer, the pending unrestricted free agent also reportedly provided the team with a list of seven teams he would be open to re-signing with.
But those teams - among them the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat - don't necessarily have the assets the Suns believe can fetch Dragic. Instead, they're actively pursuing trades with more asset-laden teams outside of Dragic's list, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
The package the Suns are seeking, Wojnarowski reports, "include a young player with significant potential and a first-round draft pick or two first-round picks."
Three teams said to have emerged as the Suns' desired trade partners are the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and Houston Rockets.
Dragic's camp has intimated that if no trade materializes, he'll opt out of his contract and seek a four-year, roughly $80-million max deal with either the Lakers or Knicks, but Suns general manager Ryan McDonough is hoping a different team will be willing bet on the allure of Dragic's Bird Rights.
Any team that acquires Dragic will inherit those rights, allowing them to offer him an extra year and a heap more guaranteed money in free agency. They may also inherit brother Zoran Dragic, who is in the first year of a two-year contract and who the Suns are trying to include in any Goran Dragic trades.
Related: Dragic says Suns can't convince him to stay
It was reported by Yahoo's Marc Spears late Tuesday night that the Kings badly want Goran Dragic, while the Celtics were revealed as outside contenders by ESPN's Marc Stein on Wednesday morning.
The Celtics have young players and a bevy of draft picks to dangle. In addition, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough worked for the Celtics for 10 years, including time as assistant general manager to Celtics GM Danny Ainge.
The Rockets, who Dragic played a season and a half for after a 2010 trade from Phoenix, have long been rumored as one of the most serious teams in pursuit.
Dragic, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, has seen his usage and numbers slide with Isaiah Thomas added to an already crowded backcourt that also features Eric Bledsoe. The Suns, who have over $20 million per year committed to Thomas and Bledsoe for the next three seasons, are said to prefer moving Thomas and re-signing Dragic.
Dragic is averaging 16.2 points, 4.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and a steal for Phoenix, which holds a half-game lead over Oklahoma City for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.