If you ask Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough, his team got the better end of the trade that sent Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat. McDonough seemingly took a shot at Dragic on Friday by suggesting Brandon Knight, whom Phoenix made a separate trade for on the same day, was a better player than the 28-year-old point guard.
Dragic essentially forced his way out of Phoenix. Add Dragic telling reporters Wednesday he didn't trust the Suns' management, and it's understandable why there might be hard feelings between the two sides. A day after Phoenix shipped Dragic to South Beach, however, it was McDonough who seemingly got the last word.
"We feel like we got the best player in the trade (Brandon Knight), coming or going," McDonough said, via ESPN. "... Every move we make is with the goal of getting the Phoenix Suns to a championship level. Sometimes, players view that as a good thing. I think they usually do. The good ones do. But, sometimes, players get a little selfish and are more worried about I, me and my than us, our and we."
McDonough may have been referring to the other comments Dragic made on Wednesday, when he told reporters he wanted to play on a team where he could be the primary ball handler.
Phoenix sent Dragic and his brother, Zoran, to Miami in a three-team trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Phoenix received Danny Granger and two future first-round picks from Miami, along with John Salmons from the Pelicans, who ended up with Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams from Miami.
The Suns, meanwhile, acquired Knight in a separate three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Phoenix sent Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee to Milwaukee and the Lakers' top-five protected 2015 first-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Knight and Kendall Marshall, whom Phoenix will waive.
Knight, 23, will be a restricted free agent after the season and will be cheaper to sign than Dragic. As for the on-court comparison between the two, it's arguable. Granted stats aren't an accurate indicator of all-around skill, they do have similar numbers: Knight is averaging 17.8 points on 43.5% shooting, 5.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game this season while Dragic is averaging 16.2 points on 50.1% shooting, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.
