One way or another, the sun will set on Phoenix's three point-guard arrangement.
On Thursday, reports suggested the Phoenix Suns would be willing to part with point guard Goran Dragic in exchange for a package involving a first-round pick.
However, the Suns would reportedly prefer to deal point guard Isaiah Thomas instead of Dragic, reports Marc Stein of ESPN. Dragic has reportedly drawn interest from the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, and the Lakers are believed to like Thomas, as well.
The Suns have an awkward arrangement with three quality point guards on the roster. Eric Bledsoe was signed to a five-year deal in the offseason, so he's not likely to move, while Dragic is slated to become a free agent at season's end.
Thomas was signed to a three-year deal worth roughly $8 million per annum last offseason and has strictly played in a bench capacity. To be fair, Thomas has played well individually, scoring 15.2 points and handing out 3.7 assists, but his sub-six-foot frame forces him to exclusively play point guard, which has cramped the Suns' already loaded backcourt.
Dragic - the superior player when compared to Thomas - captured third team All-NBA honors last season and he's a better natural facilitator than Thomas, who is more of a shoot-first guard. Dragic can also play shooting guard (which he has done this season, thus accounting, in part, for his low assist totals), whereas Thomas's diminutive stature renders him too small to check most point guards.
| Player | Points per 36 | Assists per 36 | TS% | USG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragic | 17.5 | 4.4 | 57.3 | 21.5 |
| Thomas | 21.4 | 5.2 | 57.9 | 25.8 |
Currently, the Suns sit a half-game up on the Oklahoma City Thunder for eighth in the West. However, the Suns have failed to improve upon a season ago, as indicated by their win percentage (.537 this season, .585 last season).
