Lakers To Pursue Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic
By Mario Hicks
A lot has yet to be decided within the Phoenix Suns organization, especially the icy relationship that has developed between Eric Bledsoe and the team. But there may be more decisions to look into i.e. Goran Dragic. The Suns will be in a dangerous position next summer as both Bledsoe and Goran Dragic would be unrestricted free agents.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN there’s one team who, predictably, has their eyes on the duo: the Los Angeles Lakers.
"“If Bledsoe elects to go the rare qualifying offer route, Phoenix would suddenly face the very real possibility of losing both of its two best assets without compensation in 2015 free agency.The Lakers, for example, are just one team league sources say would likely make a hard run at both of them, based on the premise that the Suns couldn’t afford the cost of paying both at that point, theoretically making either Bledsoe or Dragic gettable. Sources say that Houston, furthermore, has Dragic on its list of potential targets next summer given how he’s blossomed since leaving the Rockets for Phoenix in the free-agent summer of 2012.”"
The Los Angeles Lakers will have almost $30 million in salaries removed from the books in Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer so they will have ample funds to go after Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic next season, or any star for that matter.
With Eric Bledsoe already demanding a max contract, the perfect opportunity for him could be with the Lakers where he is able to collect what he wants–the same applying to Goran Dragic if he chooses to demand a similar salary.
The Phoenix Suns still have a lot work out logistically as they approach the new season, especially who will be up at the point guard position. A decision has to be made on the Eric Bledsoe drama and it is now looking as though Goran Dragic will be opting out of his contract after this season for the chance of a bigger check.
We will have to wait and see what the Phoenix Suns next move will be regarding Goran Dragic, but for now he’s a Sun.
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