The Indiana Pacers want an upgrade at point guard and a trade with Goran Dragic and the Phoenix Suns could be an option, as the team has signed Isaiah Thomas and drafted Tyler Ennis, giving the team some flexibility with Dragic and since they are also trying to keep Eric Bledsoe, a trade could help free things up and according to Marc Stein at ESPN, Indy would love a deal for Dragic and a deal with Roy Hibbert could be a future option.
According to ESPN.com and Marc Stein, the Pacers "dream" of getting a deal done with Dragic, as they have long wanted to upgrade over George Hill at point guard. Stein writes that the Pacers want to try and get a deal with Dragic this summer if they can, as they see point guard as the major glaring weakness on the team over the past couple seasons, especially in the playoffs last year against the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks when the team struggled on offense.
Dragic was a borderline all-star last season and he also won most improved player of the year and one reason the Suns could consider a deal is due to the glut of players they have at guard. The team has already signed Isaiah Thomas as a free agent this summer and they also drafted Tyler Ennis to join Dragic, Archie Goodwin and potentially Eric Bledsoe, who remains on the market as a restricted free agent. The Suns expect him back and one reason they may not rush to trade Dragic is to help with leverage in negotiations with Bledsoe.
The Pacers signed Rodney Stuckey and while he could be a solid option behind Hill and a potential starter, the team would be thrilled if they could pry Dragic away from the Suns. Dragic is on a team friendly deal this season and he will be a free agent next summer and while the Pacers would love to grab him in free agency, they feel that this season they could be primed for a championship run with a legitimate point guard over Hill. The team likes what Hill brings, but they want more from him and a player like Dragic would be that "dream" option for the team.
The two teams have previously worked on deals, including last season when the Suns traded Luis Scola and now the two sides could do it again. The Pacers have been "quietly shopping" Roy Hibbert this offseason and he could be a potential piece they move for Dragic. The team is not ready to just give up on Hibbert, but he did play pretty bad in the playoffs last season and they may see that as a change to make. Lance Stephenson is gone and since he was such an issue in the locker room, the team may feel that Hibbert can bounce back.
Either way, Dragic is coming off of a fine season and even if a deal doesn't get done here or with the Pacers, chances are he will be a target this season for trades. The team is apart with Bledsoe for now, as they have offered him a four year deal worth near $50 million, while he is asking for the max of five years and about $80 million. The two sides likely will agree since the Suns said they would match any offer sheet, but right now they are far apart.
