NBA Trade 2015: LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics Interested in Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic?
The Phoenix Suns are determined to move Goran Dragic before the NBA trade deadline on Friday, and reports revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are all interested in acquiring the veteran point guard.
Sam Amick of USA Today reported on Wednesday night that Dragic, through his agent Bill Duffy, informed the Suns that he wants out of Phoenix. Dragic did not directly ask for a trade, but informed the team that he is not planning to sign a new contract in the offseason.
This means that the Suns could lose him for nothing via free agency this summer, which forced general manager Ryan McDonough to start shopping Dragic, who is averaging 16.2 points to go along with 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds this season for Phoenix.
The 2014 NBA Most Improved Player could control his fate, though, as teams are expected to ask for long-term commitment before agreeing to a trade for Dragic. According to USA Today, the Slovenian guard gave a list of seven teams where he is willing to re-sign in the offseason. The Lakers, who have been linked to Dragic over the past several weeks, are reportedly on the list of the playmaker's preferred landing spot.
According to ESPN, the Lakers have already made offers, but were rejected by the Suns, who then offered Isaiah Thomas to Los Angeles in the hope of convincing Dragic to reconsider his decision by moving a player who has been eating up his playing time this season. The Lakers rejected the counter offer.
No Suns-Lakers trade is imminent at this point, and the Lakers are still convinced that they will have a good chance of acquiring Dragic via free agency. Previous reports indicated that they are willing to offer a four-year deal worth around $80 million in the offseason.
Aside from the Lakers, the Knicks are also in the running for Dragic, but they are also planning to lure the 28-year-old point guard in free agency.
The Heat, on the other hand, is an intriguing option as sources revealed that they are willing to part ways with Luol Deng, who was previously targeted by the Suns.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are not on the list of Dragic's preferred destinations, but Marc Stein of ESPN revealed that they are willing to make a gamble. The Celtics will look to acquire Dragic in a trade this offseason and hope that a five-year offer will convince the seven-year veteran to re-sign this summer.
The team who will acquire Dragic before the deadline will be the only squad who can give a five-year maximum deal to the point guard in the offseason, while other interested teams are limited to offering a four-year deal.
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