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Apparently Dragic really wants out of Phoenix.
Goran Dragic tells Suns he won't re-sign after season
Goran Dragic wants out of Phoenix. According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the representatives for the Suns point guard told team officials in a Tuesday meeting that he has no plans to re-sign in Phoenix this summer as a free agent.
That pretty much leaves the Suns with one option. Find the best trade for him and move on.
ESPN sources say Suns trading Dragic by Thursday's 3 p.m. trade deadline is now regarded as the likely scenario
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2015
Bill Duffy, agent for Dragic, offered a list of teams that they would prefer to be traded, including the Lakers, league source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 18, 2015
The Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks are among preferred destinations for Goran Dragic, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 18, 2015
It doesn't sound like the Celtics are on his short list. Also, this likely means that Isaiah Thomas is off the market. Though you never know. The Suns may just try to stare down Dragic and hope that trading away one of their guards alleviates his desire to go elsewhere.
Either way, that doesn't mean that the Celtics can't get involved somehow. Remember that they have trade exceptions lying around that could be useful. If a contender without a lot of cap room wants to get Dragic, the Celtics can absorb some salary (at the cost of an asset like a pick or a young player) to help facilitate a deal.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Stein says that the Celtics are in the mix for Goran.
ESPN sources say Celtics emerging as contender on the outside for Goran Dragic in trade with Phoenix
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2015
Celtics have the assets to jump into Dragic talks and, like Houston and Sacramento, also have the guts to trade for a free agent-to-be
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2015
Don't forget Celtics prez Danny Ainge and Suns GM Ryan McDonough have strong working relationship and have already done a deal this season
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2015