The Phoenix Suns reportedly will decide whether to trade Goran Dragic after the two sides meet privately. If Phoenix feels there's a significant chance of losing Dragic as a free agent, the team will be more likely to pull the trigger on a trade before the Thursday deadline.
There's a mix of reports about whether Phoenix will trade Dragic or not. Earlier this week, a handful of reports came out claiming the Suns would rather trade guard Isaiah Thomas over Dragic, and on Tuesday a new report indicated Phoenix's decision about Dragic will come down to the outcome of an upcoming meeting with him.
"Word is that Dragic's agents will meet with the Suns to sort of gauge whether a long-term deal for Dragic this summer is possible," Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler wrote Tuesday. "If the Suns get indications that Goran would stay beyond his current deal, the odds of a deal involving him drop to almost zero and Thomas becomes the prime trade candidate. While Thomas won't return nearly as much value as Dragic, he does have a long-term contract and that gives more certainty to a team acquiring him.
"Phoenix has the assets to make a bigger, splashier deal; the question is will one surface between now and Thursday? They seem to be working toward one."
Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reported last week that Phoenix's asking price was a future first-round draft pick. The Houston Rockets, who've been linked to Dragic all season, have since emerged as the frontrunners to land him. Houston owns the New Orleans Pelicans' 2015 first-rounder, and they have a few assets - such as up-and-coming forward Terrence Jones's rookie-scale contract and veteran Jason Terry's expiring one - to make a deal worthwhile for Phoenix.
Other teams linked to Dragic include the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, although neither team really has the assets to pull off a trade for Dragic this season.
