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Houston Rockets Trade Rumor: Suns Dragic Veto’s Rocket Return

By Tamberlyn Richardson

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Houston Rockets Trade Rumor:

With the trade deadline scheduled for Thursday afternoon (3:00 P.M. Eastern) the rumor mill is heating up as teams looking to make a final push toward the playoffs are actively seeking players to shore up their squads.

I noted the Rockets need to entertain upgrading their starting point guard position in the FanSided article: The trade each team must make, given how much James Harden is being forced to handle the Rockets’ offense.

While Patrick Beverley has done an adequate job in the starting spot even his defense has slipped of late and his inability to hit wide open shots recently has added fuel to the fire for the point guard hunt.

I speculated the perfect fit for the Rockets would be Oklahoma City point guard Reggie Jackson who enters restricted free agency this summer and has been vocal about becoming a starting point guard.

Then rumblings out of Phoenix had last year’s Most Improved Player and ex Rocket Goran Dragic as a possible candidate given he enters free agency this summer. Since he is well aware of Houston’s system and fits their identity he seemed like a logical player to pursue.

That was until Monday when word shifted that the Suns were actually looking to move newly signed Isaiah Thomas instead of Dragic conceding their 3-guard strategy wasn’t working. Phoenix determined a return to utilizing Dragic and Eric Bledsoe was a better fit for the club and were prepared to make amends for his reduced playing time and role this season by trading Thomas.

Well so much for the saying: “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” as Dragic proved nothing is worse than a point guard scorned.

Late Tuesday, Goran Dragic’s agent released news he WILL NOT re-sign with the Suns this summer which means they have until 3 P.M. Thursday to move the disenchanted player.  Not moving him by the deadline would mean the Suns would get nothing in return for Dragic when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July and can just walk.

But, while the Rockets may have been pinpointing Dragic as logical starting point guard he lowered the boom on Houston simultaneously stating the Rockets were NOT on his short list of teams that he would renew with if traded to.

It looks like Dragic is focused on big markets and big money as his reported short list includes New York and the Lakers.

Yahoo Sources: Phoenix’s Goran Dragic wants trade to Lakers, New York Knicks or Miami Heat. Suns could be defiant. http://t.co/wbP0I9B0Qr

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 18, 2015

Regarding Goran Dragic’s list of desired teams given to Phx, I’m told there are 7 in all. Lakers on, Houston is not – http://t.co/KhnUgNRM9o

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 18, 2015


So much for all players looking to just win championships! Even if he were to join these squads they are both still several moves away from returning to contention.

For now the Rockets GM Daryl Morey will likely continue to probe viable options via the other 28 organizations.

Perhaps given the snub of Kyle Lowry this summer and now this Dragic revelation Morey and coach Kevin McHale may have learned a valuable lesson: treat all players like they might be returning one day, they could be the difference in you winning a championship!

Next: How Rockets Could Leverage Dragic To Get Their Starting PG?

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