The morning after the news was reported that Suns guard Goran Dragic told the team that he would not be re-signing with them and would like to be traded, he met with the media to discuss why. The news came down as somewhat of a shock and he did not hold back about how he felt.
The quotes tell the story.
Reason for taking a stance and not wanting to stay with Suns: “I need to think about my future, about my family. I think that that’s the right thing to do for myself. It is what it is with this kind of situation and I cannot change that. The only thing I could do is play hard and I did that.”
On the biggest reason for this stance: “Changing my role.”
On if he think he will be traded: “I don’t know, you guys will have to ask the front office guys up stairs. I made myself clear and what they are going to do, they are going to do. The only thing I can do is practice and try to stay in shape”
Hard to play for a team now they know you want out? “No because I am a professional. I will play every game as hard as possible. I love basketball. That’s my life and every game is important for me.”
At what point did he reach this conclusion? “It was going through the whole season and at the beginning and it’s just different standing in a corner. It’s not my game. I see that we are not going in the right direction and that’s why I take action and try to put myself in a better position.”
Could the team have done something at the deadline for him to change his mind? “No, I have made up my mind. It’s happened two year in a row, I play hard and put myself in a good spot and every year it’s the same. I stand by my actions.”
Trust with the organization: “I don’t trust them anymore. It’s happened to many times. Two or three times. They gave promises and it’s just hard. I wish them all the best.”
What is a good situation for him? “To be a point guard. Like I was in the past and like I have my whole life. To run the team, to have the ball in my hands and try to make plays for others. That’s who I am. That’s why I’m not happy, to be in the corner, I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for this team.”
Would it be ok with him if it was just hi and Eric Bledsoe again? “I don’t want to think about that. It is what it is at this point. Last year was great but it’s changed this season and it’s a different situation…I live in the present and I’m looking to the future.
On his time in Phoenix: “The past five years have been great. I am always going to have a good memory about the fans and the city. I’ve just hit that point in my career that it’s better for me and my family to move on.”
Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek also met with the media and discussed the situation surrounding Dragic and how it impacts the team going forward.
“Guys have to make decisions on what they feel is best for them. As far as we are concerned, until that trade deadline comes and goes, he’s still a part of our team. If he is still here after the trade deadline, we expect him to play like a professional and lay it all out there.”
He went on to respond on Dragic’s comments that he just stands in a corner.
“If that’s what he feels, that’s what he feels,” said Hornacek. “We swing the ball from side to side and he’s gotten the ball on a swing, so again, everyone has their own perception of what’s going on out there. Is it what it was last year? No. But we are four bounces, four plays away from being 33-21. So it is what it is.”
The NBA Trade Deadline is tomorrow at 1pm AZ time. The Suns are back in action on Friday in Minnesota.
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Jared Cohen
A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.