NBA Trade Deadline News: Goran Dragic Dealt To Heat In Blockbuster

The NBA trade deadline saw a flurry of deals, headlined by the Phoenix Suns shipping Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat.

After a career year last season when he averaged more than 20 points per game and made third team All NBA, Dragic saw his stats sink a bit and his role with the team diminished. After seeing guard Eric Bledsoe surpass him on the roster, Dragic made it clear he wanted out of Phoenix.

“I don’t trust them anymore,” Dragic said after the Suns practiced Wednesday.

Goran Dragic said he was tired of playing a role of “standing in the corner” and waned to go to a team that would allow him to “be a point guard, like in the past I was my whole life.”

“To be a point guard, to run the team and have the ball in my hands and try to make plays for others,” Dragic said. “That’s who I am.”

As SBNation noted, Dragic had some strange trade demands, which included a list of three teams he would accept, all of which were worse than the Suns.

“The targeted cities — Miami, New York, and L.A. — have the nation’s best nightlife and the teams based there have traditionally been open to spending huge sums on payroll. The teams also offer an opportunity for Dragic, named one of the league’s top six guards last season, to have a massive role as he wraps up a contract year.

So, Dragic is requesting to be traded from a rather good team to one of three rather bad teams for some combination of money, spotlight, and nightlife. This is the most stereotypical NBA trade demand of all time. And it’s coming from Goran Dragic. [emphasis theirs]”

The Phoenix Suns made out well in return for Goran Dragic, receiving Danny Granger, Norris Cole, Shawne Williams, Jordan Hamilton, and two first-round picks. The Heat will also be taking Goran’s brother, rookie Zoran Dragic.