The New York Knicks reportedly believe they have an "outside shot" of landing Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic in a trade. Knicks guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jose Calderon are the two names being linked in a trade for Dragic, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge.
There has been a whirlwind of reports about Dragic's future after he purportedly told Phoenix on Tuesday he wouldn't re-sign with them after the season. Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday Dragic's agent had given Phoenix a list of preferred destinations, which included the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat and the Knicks.
Yahoo Sports' report also indicated Los Angeles and New York weren't motivated to trade for him this season and would rather pursue him in the summer as a free agent, but - at least for the Knicks - that may be untrue.
"Knicks believe they have an outside shot at getting Goran Dragic for Hardaway/Calderon package, per source," Aldridge tweeted Thursday.
Dragic's current situation is reminiscent of Carmelo Anthony's in the 2010-11 season, when he essentially forced the Denver Nuggets to trade him to the Knicks. Dragic has a player option for next season, and he's reportedly making it known to interested teams - such as the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings - he will only re-sign in the summer with New York, Los Angeles or Miami.
Phoenix is now in a difficult position. Most teams won't trade significant assets for a player who will walk after the season. New York, Los Angeles and Miami are all weak in the assets department, meaning - unless another team is OK with renting Dragic for the rest of the season - Phoenix may have to trade him for less than his market value to get something instead of letting him walk for nothing as an unrestricted free agent in July.
The Knicks will have enough cap space to sign Dragic outright in the summer, but trading for him would bring his Bird rights to New York and give team president Phil Jackson more financial flexibility in the offseason.
