Topic: We wonder what fans believe is the maximum amount of money the Los Angeles Lakers should offer current Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic in the summer.
Context: The NBA’s trade deadline is fast approaching and the Lakers have been in the news as usual. This time, it involves Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic as the team is apparently trying to acquire the NBA’s 2014 Most Improved Player.
While it is now unclear whether the Suns are more focused on moving Dragic or fellow point guard Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers interest in Dragic is well known as the team has reportedly had their eye on him all season. Additionally, Dragic is expected to opt-out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
Dragic’s numbers have dropped some this season as he has had to adjust to the Suns’ three point guard experiment. He proved last year, however, that he can hang with the top guards in the league when he averaged 20 points and six assists and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
The Lakers will have the money to offer a max contract to someone this summer, and it is rumored that they would offer one to Dragic this summer, but there are serious questions as to whether he is worth that type of money. He would be a major upgrade at the point guard spot, but the Lakers must be careful not to overpay too much or risk hindering themselves from building up the rest of the roster.
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Verdict: We went to Twitter to ask the loyal Lakers Nation followers what is the biggest contract they would offer Goran Dragic. These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH 4 years 80 mil max.. it's not like we're really in a position to ask dragic to take less.. feel me
— Abdul Yusuf (@aryusuf21) February 14, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation in today's nba he is a max player. At least 4 years $70 million
— Justin Klein (@Justinaklein) February 14, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate 4 year 48 million. He is NOT a max player.
— michael odom (@odom3511) February 14, 2015
@TheeCoreyH 4yr 60mil #LNdebate can't tell me he's worth the same as Harden/Curry/westbrook 15$mil per
— ♠Jacoby Jones♠ (@Derego) February 14, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation I would give him 12 a year max so 4 years 48 mil #LNdebate
— Danny (@dannyfraijo) February 14, 2015
@TheeCoreyH not getting him for anything less than 4 year $70m.
— AJ Taylor (@ajstarting5) February 14, 2015
Lakers Nation was relatively split on this topic with some saying to give him max money or close to it while others would rather not add him to the team at all. Overall, however, most seem willing to pay Dragic in the $12-15 million range which seems about right for him.
Dragic may be the safest bet of any potential free agent point guard. Rajon Rondo’s best days seem like they’re past him, while Reggie Jackson has never been a full-time starter. Dragic still has plenty of good years left in him and I believe that his drop in play has far more to do with trying to get used to a new system than his talent.
With the Lakers being as bad as they are, they will likely have to overpay at least slightly to bring in big-time free agents. If they are able to bring in Dragic by trade it could help them retain him in the off-season and he could help them bring in another player. Somewhere in the $14-15 million range is likely what it will take to get him and I believe he is worth it.
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