Suns nab their man
by Seth Pollack on Jun 26, 2008 10:15 PM MDT
44 comments
All night Sports 620 KTAR radio reported that the Suns were trying to get Slovenian 6'4" PG Goran Dragic and after looking like they missed out, Kerr pulled it off at the last minute with this deal:
Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports the Phoenix Suns have traded No. 48 Malik Hairston, their 2009 second round draft choice and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs for the Spurs second round pick, Goran Dragic, the 45th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Dragic is a point guard from Slovenia.
"Dragic is considered the second best point guard in the draft but had contractual issues with his team in Europe and wasn't projected to go in the first round because of that," Sports 620 KTAR's Gambadoro said. "He is owned by Tau in Spain and a buyout deal may have been worked out to allow him to come to the United States to play. He is left handed, 22 years old and has great size 6-3 1/2 with a 6-7 1/2 wing span and 37 1/2 max vertical. If he can come now this is a steal for the Suns and they have their point guard for the future."
Check out this write up of his defense:
Dragic played spectacular defense on whoever he was guarding, mainly Rudy Mbemba, who’s terrific speed did not faze him in the least bit. He got right into his man’s grill on every possession of the game, fighting through screens admirably, showing excellent length and lateral quickness, and getting his hands on countless number of balls. It got to the point that players were just afraid to put the ball on the floor when Dragic was in the vicinity, as more often than not he would find a way to poke it away and bust up plays. He got his team into transition time after time, and made very good decisions once there, finishing strong and intelligently around the basket and getting to the line seven times.
I love this move by the Suns. I have no clue who this guy is (yet) but the Suns thought very highly of him and if they managed to arrange for him to play here this year he could turn into a huge steal. And from the Spurs no less!
And even if he's a bust, you have to credit the Suns for being aggressive and going after the guy they wanted even it cost some $ to get done. They easily could have just walked away from him after he was initially picked by the Spurs at 45. But no, they wanted the guy and found a way to get it done. Love it.
Meet Goran - I have a very good feeling about this kid for some reason. I love his size and defense and while his offense is reported to be shaky, we saw in Rondo how valuable an athletic, tough defensive PG can be to a team. I also am thrilled that we are getting a 22 y/o with a few years of game experience instead of a 19 y/o Freshman.
[Note by ZonaFlash, 06/28/08 6:20 PM EDT ]
Steve Kerr wants this guy bad.
[Note by ZonaFlash, 06/29/08 6:30 AM EDT ]
I have to admit. I'm starting to get excited about Slovenian Magic. I thought this was a lot of PR bunk - another foreign second-rounder to be parked overseas and never mentioned again.
However, the extreme excitement of Kerr, the tenacity of the management team to get this guy and the willingness to fork over money for this guy to play next season says a lot to me about what the Suns think he is.
It still may not pay off, but at least it's sincere excitement and just PR.
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Damn
Goran has a wingspan.
Purchasing my Dragic jersey
by rosewood on Jun 26, 2008 10:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah!
I’m kinda liking this. Assuming of course we can get him across the pond to play, and assuming this guy can turn into anything
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
by Turambar on Jun 26, 2008 10:39 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
overall...
he’s a work in progress, but I wont start jugding until I see him on the court this fall.
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
by Turambar on Jun 26, 2008 10:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I only like this deal....
.... if we can get him over here this year. I know everyone says this is our year but this really is. So lock and load…
"Yes I know what your wondering....Brandon Webb is my running mate."
by Elway4Prez on Jun 26, 2008 10:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Kinda upset
that they didn’t buy Walker from WAS like BOS did….dude could be a stud.
I really hope they get this kid over here quickly…
by rsavaj on Jun 26, 2008 10:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully...
they’ll resolve the crap out of his contract issue and get him over. If we arent going to pick up some free agent pg this offseason then we need Dragic to get here now and get some burn behind God Emperor Nash
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
by Turambar on Jun 26, 2008 10:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
It seems unlikely that Dragic will become a Sun next year.
2 years ago, he signed with Tau Ceramica on a ‘3 + 2’ contract. he can opt out of the 4th and 5th years of his contract only to sign on an NBA team. I guess . Tau loaned him to small clubs the last 2 years, and already announced he made it to the team’s roster next season – so I guess getting him out of that contract is going to be tough.
Just for the record, the Spurs had a hard time trying to get Tau’s players whom they drafted (Luis Scola, Tiago Splitter) or tried to acquire (Fabricio Oberto) out of their contracts. I don’t know what’s going on between Tau and the Spurs, but I hope that’s between them and Dragic will get to wear his Suns jersey in 08/09 :)
by Oren on Jun 27, 2008 11:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
His low ft% concerns me a little
as it shows bad fundamental form with his shot. He’s shooting 70.8%, which is awful for a guard.
As with Lopez, this kid has Steve Nash and Thunder Dan to help him with his shooting, and if he has any kind of a work ethic, he’ll be a fine paduwan to Obi Wan Nash. Wish we’d hired Jeff Hornacek to help coach shooting, though.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 26, 2008 10:59 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed
This kid can learn from the best, he only needs the will to learn
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
by Turambar on Jun 26, 2008 11:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slovenia
Apparently, he’s the starter for the Slovenian national team, which also features Vujacic and Udrih.
I don’t know if that’s just because those guys are in the U.S. and can’t make it back though.
Purchasing my Dragic jersey
by rosewood on Jun 26, 2008 11:08 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Free throws?
I saw him hit a free throw in that video. Pretty exciting.
He can dunk, too. Nash can’t do that. Pliny, Obiwan Nash’s Padawan? Sounds like trouble to me. Too reckless is he (and no fundamentals—video trickery!)
I sense a false sense of enthusiasm on this site. Not so sure about all this …
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Jun 26, 2008 11:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
A false sense of enthusiasm?
I think it’s all we have after picking Varejao part 2 with the 15th pick and listening to Steve Kerr call this kid our starting PG in the next couple of years.
The Spin Machine is working hard ladies and gents.
How long before Shaq calls Lopez the best C he’s ever played with ;)?
by rsavaj on Jun 27, 2008 12:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
no man....
this looks pretty good, hasn’t anyone learned the “Dan Majerle” law, or the “Steve Nash” law, don’t boo or be negative, wait and see, a little optimism wouldn’t kill you’all.
Suns fans in general were very negative when we drafted Nash / Thunder Dan. All I want from our point guard is speed, toughness, and skill. He definitely has those and if he has the desire, he sure will have the people around helping…
I have to say rsavaj….that was freaking funny about “how long before shaq calls lopez….”
:-)
I’m a shaq fan, I think he’s funny and I loved him diving after balls, etc. But, I’ll admit when I’m wrong, and trading for him last year didn’t work out well. Missing 32 of 64 free throws vs the spurs, seriously, that killed us. If it was almost anything else, maybe he could gain back some more athleticism, etc, maybe he could lose 40 more lbs….etc etc….but the free throw shooting, as laker fans have told us…..it sucked then, it sucks now, it’ll suck tomorrow. Too bad,
If only we’d gotten a young good player for Marion….
seems like good stuff this time….Hey, at least we didn’t freakin give away/sell our picks again.
by be-the-ball on Jun 27, 2008 1:10 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Phoenix, Stan
thanks for the video..
by be-the-ball on Jun 27, 2008 1:10 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Couple things
1. Interesting choice for musical accompaniment to the video
2. Doesn’t Goran sounds like the name of an alien from a B-movie?
Anyways, if the only reason this guy wasn’t drafted in the first round is because of his contract then I think this is a good pickup. It’d be great to get him over here to study under Nash but may pan out even if we can’t. He stays in Europe with his club, we don’t pay him (right?), and develops into a great pg (or not) and we bring him over to replace Nash (or not and lose nothing in the process).
by Meez on Jun 27, 2008 1:49 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
Its a fairly low risk move and the one skills that’s easiest to improve with time and effort is shooting.
Look at Amare? Hi FT% and outside shooting in general has improved a LOT.
You can’t teach size, toughness, defensive desire, speed and trust me on this one – you can’t teach left-handedness
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 7:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
And mostly
I just love that the Suns had a plan and made it happen…
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
See what fun
lowered expectations can be? When you aren’t trying to win the championship on ever play the littlest things are so much more enjoyable
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 7:46 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Expectations
One of the most philosophical and appropriate song lyrics to come out of the 90s:
“Don’t expect too much of me and you will not be let down.”
Gin Blossoms
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Jun 27, 2008 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know Stan..
That’s what I liked the most about getting this kid…we needed a back up Point Guard with a good defense. It seems like we got him. I won’t worry about his offense until his starts missing uncontested lay ups a la DJ Strawberry.
He can learn from the best here (Nash). I’m kind of excited…=)
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
by PanamaSun on Jun 27, 2008 7:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am hoping
I get to see this kid play along w/ DJ, AT and Robin up close in Vegas in a few weeks!
For those that missed this – here’s the Suns schedule- Monday, July 14: vs. Houston at Thomas & Mack Center, 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 17: vs. San Antonio at Thomas & Mack Center, 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 18: vs. New York at Cox Pavilion, 1 p.m.
- Saturday, July 19: vs. Portland at Cox Pavilion, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, July 20: vs. Washington at Cox Pavilion, 3 p.m.
I am trying HARD to get up there for the Thursday to Sunday games and will post more on that later if anyone else is interested in driving up from Phx.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 8:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
So.
Why would the Spurs do us such a big favor?
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on Jun 27, 2008 9:37 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
my question also
What do they know? Of course they got ripped on Scola. And Portland-Houston combo sure pulled one over on the vaunted Spur FO, by hiding Batum, whom the Spurs and Portland wanted, and the Rockets did not.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jun 27, 2008 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget
Barbosa who we stole from the Spurs as well. You have to think they could have used his scoring off the bench right about now.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
The Spurs have been prone to mistakes of this kind (Luis Scola for $3M??).
These mistakes are a luxury any team with Tim Duncan can afford.
However, my expected value for this player in a Suns uniform is not so high. I hope someday he wears the jersey, but doubt it. And that’s why he was the 45th pick.
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on Jun 27, 2008 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most of the issue with Dragic (and Pekovic) is contractual..
I find this amusing. It’s the modern day equivalent of the Junior eligible rule Red Auerbach used to draft Larry Bird.
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 27, 2008 12:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll grade this like the Porter hire: Cautiously Optimistic
I haven’t commented too much on the draft, because I’m pretty ignorant about the prospects—just no time to watch college hoops anymore. I was kind of leaning towards Rush and away from Lopez, but that was pretty much 100% based on the very little I had read, or heard here on the radio.
The front office is always going to spin in their own favor, but even the talking heads on the 4-letter seemed cool with the pick last night, and whatever you want to say about the Suns trade history, they have been pretty good in the draft when they bother to make a pick. More than anything, I’ll agree with some of those comments up top, the best thing is that they seem to have a plan and they’re going for it.
For what it’s worth, the resident padawan here in the SoCalSun household called the Lopez pick off the TV shot of likely Suns draftees, I’m hoping this portents well…
by SoCalSun on Jun 27, 2008 9:47 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
First red flag of the Porter Era
“He can defend well on the defensive end.”
Really Coach? As opposed to defending on the offensive end?
by rsavaj on Jun 27, 2008 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
TP ain't eloquent, that's for sure.
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on Jun 27, 2008 11:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
sigh...
My wife walked in and noticed D’Antoni’s interview and commented how sad it was to see him in Knick colors; it’s all water under the bridge now, but man, TP’s interview sure was awkward in comparison.
by SoCalSun on Jun 27, 2008 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
D'Antoni's comments
He joked that someone will have to teach Gallinari some defense. That was funny. Nobody on that team plays defense.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jun 27, 2008 11:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
but who will teach d'antoni...
great stuff….should be fun keeping tabs on them
seems like a few teams, the nets, knicks, etc are very serious about trying to get lebron (or wade, or cp3) in 2010
by be-the-ball on Jun 27, 2008 11:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
James
If you were LeBron, which team would you go to? I would want to go to Detroit. NY is all nice, the Big Apple and such, but until they get a decent organization, LeBron isn’t going to win there. It depends on what’s important to him. From a purely basketball standpoint, I would think King James would want to head for the best-run franchises like Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas, or Orlando.
If he goes to the Knicks, he will be like KG was with Minnesota – swimming in money, but no chip.
Now the Nets are run better, and it would be a coup to get Lebron to help them open in Brooklyn.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jun 30, 2008 7:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heck
I am thrilled he mentioned defense twice!
Who cares if he doesn’t give great press conference. We’ve had that guy.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 27, 2008 5:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
defense on the defensive end
I heard that, also. I just blinked, and said “what?” He’s still new at talking to the press. How many beat writers cover the Bucks? one? Two? One of the Packer beat writers probably has to double up. And I think they have about five fans.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jun 27, 2008 11:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Articulation
is low on the list of priorities for the coach well behind getting through to the players.
I am quite sure that while I can be very articulate and effective with my team of 20 or so advance degreed professionals who communicate for a living that my style would not best fit the dynamics of a team full of young professional athletes.
Let’s cut Porter some slack on his word choices and judge hom on his team’s performance.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Seth Pollack on Jun 28, 2008 1:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Language gaffs remind people of Bush
That’s the only thing that scares people… =)
We try not to critique english on the blog, so I’m not worried about TP’s interviews. If the Suns were concerned, they could have hired Marv Albert like I recommended.
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on Jun 28, 2008 4:25 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree...
I have seen lots of Presidents in my time, and I don’t remember one that didn’t make constant speaking mistakes. You can hide behind your handlers, or try to speak straight to the people, come what may. I for one, appreciate the latter.
I think the media considers it’s mission to be making caricatures of public figures, and sadly, there are a lot of people out there who let the media do their thinking for them.
As it relates to basketball, let’s face it. What the heck does speaking well in public have to do with winning basketball games?
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jun 30, 2008 7:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Public Speaking
That kind of depends on how you define public speaking.
Most of the best spoken speechs are dry when read. Very rarely does the written word convey the true meaning of the speech. When you know what the guy’s saying, that’s a good speech—regardless of grammar.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Jun 30, 2008 10:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know what you're saying...
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jul 1, 2008 6:05 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Paul Westphal was a Shakespeare scholar..
articulate man, but would you rather have him as head coach ?
"True glory consists of doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read".
by Pliny the Elder on Jun 28, 2008 4:27 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
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