The Indiana Pacers have been eyeing a trade for Goran Dragic this offseason and with the team shopping a trade for Roy Hibbert, a deal with the Phoenix Suns could be an option this summer, as the team signed Isaiah Thomas in free agency to join draft pick Tyler Ennis and if the Suns want to sign Eric Bledsoe as well, it means the roster has too many point guards and that is why Indy is looking to make a deal for Dragic.
According to ESPN.com and Marc Stein, the Pacers are looking hard at a Dragic trade this summer to help upgrade at the point guard position and they feel a deal can get done since Phoenix drafted Tyler Ennis and signed Isaiah Thomas. ESPN.com is reporting that the Suns have signed Thomas to a sign and trade deal from the Kings and now the team has a number of solid point guards on the roster and that could make Dragic expendable. Pro Basketball Talk reported that the Suns were not looking to trade Dragic, but that was before the team inked Thomas to a deal.
Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com are reporting that Hibbert is being shopped this offseason and while a trade is no guarantee, the Suns could be an option. The team has Alex Len dealing with an injury and after their interest in Gasol, Hibbert could be a target if the Suns are willing to give up Dragic, who has a team friendly $7 million deal this year and just won most improved player in the league.
Thomas signed with a four-year, $28 million contract on a sign and trade since he was a restricted free agent and now the Suns can turn their attention to Bledsoe, who is also an RFA. The team has plans on signing back Bledsoe and so far he has not received an offer sheet. Thomas was very impressive last season for a bad Kings team, putting up some very efficient numbers and averaging 20 points and over six assists.
The Suns were one of the most surprising teams in the west last season and they challenged for a playoff spot for most of the season and nearly made it in. The team now brings back a young and talented roster that already includes Alex Len and Archie Goodwin and now has Dragic, Tyler Ennis and Thomas in the fold. According to ESPN.com, the team also signed back PJ Tucker on a three year deal. The contract is worth over $16 million and still gives the Suns some flexibility, as they came into the offseason with a ton of cap space.
Last season the team nearly pulled off a trade with the Lakers for Pau Gasol as they tried to make a playoff push and now they have started adding free agents. The team aimed high for LeBron James and while that was a tempting situation, he opted to go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe come in as the starting two if they come back and now Thomas is in the fold as well along with Ennis, giving the team some major flexibility.
