According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Houston Rockets are making a push to acquire Phoenix Suns’ point guard Goran Dragic before next Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline. Dragic, who played for the Rockets for season and a half before leaving the team in the summer of 2012, is averaging 16.2 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Suns this season.
Dragic, who is set to become a free agent this off-season, was named to the All-NBA third team last season after a breakout year where he averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists per game. He is a creative offensive player at the point guard position, who has the ability to create his own shot and set up his teammates well.
If the season ended today, the 29-25 Suns would be the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. However, after losing five out of their last six games heading in to the All-Star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder only trail the Suns by half of a game for the last playoff spot in the West.
The Suns have not entertained offers for Dragic up to this point, but with their playoff picture looking worse and worse by the day and the uncertainly surrounding Dragic’s free agency, the Suns would be wise to at least consider offers from teams like the Rockets.
Dragic is commonly considered to be their best and most recognizable player, but Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas are good, young point guard options who are under team control for the next few seasons. Trading Dragic would allow Thomas and Bledsoe to establish themselves, and would bring more balance to the roster.
Dragic would be an exciting running mate for Rockets' guard James Harden, and would bring a different dynamic to their offense. He could be just the player Houston needs to put them over the top to make a run at an NBA championship this season.