The Goran Dragic trade from the Phoenix Suns to the Miami Heat is nearly a year old, and thus, you’d think any leftover ill will between the two teams would have subsided. For the most part, this has held true. But with the Heat traveling to Phoenix for Friday’s game, questions about Dragic’s time in the desert (and his departure from the organization) were going to be asked. And, well, the 2014 All-NBA selection didn’t hold back.
When asked about the Suns’ struggles (Phoenix is 12-25 and second-to-last in the Western Division), Dragic told Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports, “It feels like they’re always changing something. They’re not like Miami, San Antonio, those teams that are really loyal when they find something.”
And boom goes the dynamite.
It’s probably fair game for Dragic to throw a verbal elbow when presented an opportunity. After all, the Suns didn’t exactly let him go without slingshotting some serious shade in his direction. This was a softball Dragic was ready to crush. Factually, though, Dragic’s not wrong. Lee notes that only a handful of players, including fellow point guard Eric Bledsoe, remain on the roster from Dragic’s time in Phoenix.
Ultimately, the move ended up being the best thing for the Slovenian point guard. As a starter in Miami, he’s played in every game and is getting solid minutes and the Heat are in the thick of the race for the Eastern Conference crown. From the viewpoint of the Suns front office, Dragic might not have been the caliber of superstar worth negotiating around, but Phoenix is building for its future and Miami got a key member of their rotation at the point guard spot.
Dragic said he still has good memories of his two stints in Phoenix, but it’ll be an interesting return for sure on Friday with his comments fresh on the minds of the Suns.
(Via Yahoo Sports)