Selling the fans on Goran Dragic

Is how Mike & Mike spent the entire game. "Manu Ginobli" at PG.

After Deron he's the best PG out there.

According to what they've heard from some people in Houston he's going to command around $8m/per.

Quick dropped hints last week. So, it seems that he's the #1 target this summer.

Wouldn't the hiring of Mike D'Antoni be next on the list? His system is ideal for Dragic.

 

I can't believe he would be the #1 target this summer. #2 after Dwill is very believable.

 

Isn't Manu Ginobili "Manu Ginobili at PG"? I know he officially plays SG, but he runs the offense when he's in, and he probably averages more assists per minute than Dragic.

By which you mean UFA, I suppose. Maybe.

Agreed - also, Steve Kerr as GM, since he's the guy who drafted him. (I remember at the time Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress mocked the (deep into the second round) pick, saying that Dragic had been nothing special in Europe.)

I love watching Dragic. It's interesting that he dropped off the face of the earth last year when he went to Houston at first, because you'd think Adelman would be perfect for him.

(Another plus: he has the "Hobbit" look of native northwestern BBallers like Ridnour et. al.)

What's his defense like?

 

Defense?

[video=youtube;H3cUl4iO5d0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3cUl4iO5d0
[/video]



just kidding. He's actually pretty serviceable on D and has shown the ability to hang with people driving at him. But he's no stopper. Few starting PGs are.

 

Good Lord. That dunk is freaking amazing. One of the best I've seen in the last few years.

 

So, some people would build the entire team, from the supporting cast to the coach to the GM around Goran Dragic? What am I missing?

Just kidding. Sort of. He'd be a huge upgrade for us (the utter sucktitude of our PG situation is really depressing), and he's actually not a pipe dream. I expect the Blazers probably will overpay for him if they can't get D-Will. We're the Blazers. It seems we have to overpay. Good thing we've (still) got Paul Allen.

And yeah, it sure seems like the propaganda machine is already selling us the goods.

 

I have sticker shock. A joke as a Sun, now $8 million?

 

He is playing well, looked really good last night, $8mil\year makes me nervous, but that is probably what he will end up getting....

 

The $60 mil contract we gave Aldridge was declared as vastly overspending by some. Until he proved that it was a goddamned bargain in the next season.

By way of comparison, $8 mil/year is about $500k more than the Blazers are paying Felton this year. It's also about what Andre Miller has averaged since 2003, and what Devin Harris got when his rookie deal expired. I think it's right about the general asking price for a decent but not elite starting level 30+mpg PG in this league, which is what Dragic appears to be.

Dragic seems to have some upside. He's nearly 26, but he's only 3 years into the league and has only had the opportunity to start 27 games. You could see him go from being a top 15 pg into a top 7-8 pg or maybe better, so like Aldridge it's the kind of contract that could look pretty sweet in hindsight.

I'd obviously prefer Deron Williams, but I'm finding it easy to convince myself that he ain't a bad consolation prize.

 

OK, he got posturized by Derrick Rose. So does everyone. The important thing is, he didn't give up on the play and tried to contest the shot. If our guys had tried a little harder this season, we'd be in the playoffs. He appears to have the right attitude, at least.

 

Better than being pasteurized by Derrick Rose. (Or anybody, really.)

 

Here's an attempt to explain that.

 

Usually Mrs HCP is the one touching on something important


Seriously though, that was a good point he made

 

I'd be fine with Dragic as the PG as long as there's a plan in place to get a proven All-Star at a wing position. If a deal could be made to trade Wes and one of our picks for someone like Iguodala, then that would make a solid backcourt. Dragic paired with Matthews? Not so much.

 

Whats with you and filling holes?

 

I'm not certain that the Rockets are going to want Lowry over Dragic.

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with his age.

I'd like to get younger core but I like having my PG with a lot of experience -- it'll make development easier (and quicker?) for the players we bring in via trade or draft.

 

On offense the main guy that Dragic would be paired with is Aldridge in pick and rolls. If they can be effective together, it makes for good looks for weak side spot up shooters like Matthews and Batum.

STOMP

 

Well, my main point was that an $8mil/yr contract projects to be pretty reasonably priced, and potentially a bargain if he continues improving (certainly a possibility, given how few starts he's had).

If he is a decent value at that price, I'm not sure there's a lot of downside. It's not like we're married to the guy. If it turns out you are right and he doesn't fill enough "holes" on the team, leaving us languishing in first-round-and-out hell, you trade him a year from now for younger prospects.

Reasonably priced, talented, in-their-prime point guards are always pretty liquid in the NBA market. You don't get stuck with them, you have options with them.