Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic Should Be Very Excited For Upcoming Free Agency
By Dan Schultz
@DSchultz89
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Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns will most likely enter the 2015 NBA Offseason as an unrestricted free agent after the team declined to offer him an extension before the October 31 deadline. Dragic has a player option for the 2015-16 season, but given that he will only be slated to make $7.5 million that season, it is expected that he will decline it and instead enter free agency in search of a much higher payday.
After all, the 6-foot-3 point guard had the best season of his career last year, snagging All-League Third Team and “Most Improved Player” honors thanks to a ridiculous shooting season in which he recorded a 51 percent mark from the field and 41 percent clip from outside.
Not only that, he showed he could co-exist and start beside another point guard in the Suns’ backcourt in Eric Bledsoe. No one expected the Suns to come close to making the playoffs last year, but they won a shocking 48 games thanks to the leadership demonstrated by Dragic during the season, where he also averaged 20.3 PPG, 5.9 APG and 3.2 RPG.
The Suns have been extremely cautious so far when it comes to dealing out extensions, as seen this summer when they were very hesitant to sign Bledsoe to a maximum contract. But they eventually came to terms on a five-year, $70 million deal with the high-octane, fearless guard.
It had to be at least a little frustrating for Dragic seeing the Suns agree to give Bledsoe his money, but not be willing to offer him what he was desiring after his name was casually thrown around as an MVP candidate at points in the season last year.
The Suns might be playing the same card the San Antonio Spurs are using with Kawhi Leonard, where they want to motivate him to play his best for a new contract so that he and team will benefit as a result. However, where Leonard will be a restricted free agent this upcoming summer and the Spurs will have the chance to match any offer in the open market, the Suns are risking losing Dragic being that he will be unrestricted and free to sign anywhere.
The fact that Dragic is coming off a career year and will have no strings attached going into next summer has to be a liberating feeling for him. He is only 28 years old and is now entering the prime years of his career. NBA contracts will also be going up soon due to the league’s recent deals with the TV networks, which bodes well for a player in Dragic’s situation.
Dragic should do his best to mirror what he did last season. If he does this, the Suns have an excellent chance at making the playoffs and Dragic will be in fantastic shape to receive the money he deserves. It is clear that he is a special player and that teams will be pounding on his door as soon as he enters free agency this summer.
It will be interesting to see if he can continue his strong play and put together another remarkable season, because he has all the motivation he needs to play the best basketball of his life this year.
Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
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