NBA Rumors: Latest Details on Zoran Dragic, Ricky Rubio Contract and More
The new NBA season is right around the corner, which can only mean one thing—the rumor mill is coming out of its brief hibernation.
Some teams are still on the hunt for small upgrades to their rosters. This mostly pertains to depth at this time of year, but injuries, performances in non-NBA events and other such factors usually see a few names earn a job in the early fall.
Other teams are more interested in building for the future, which could mean making personnel moves or inking a contract with a key player.
Regardless, the mill is alive and well. Miss it? Here is the latest.
Zoran Dragic to the Desert?
It sounds as if Markieff and Marcus Morris will not be the only pair of brothers on the Phoenix Suns next season.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Suns are close to signing a multiyear deal with Goran Dragic’s younger brother, Zoran:
Zoran went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft and was a brief addition on the Houston Rockets' summer league squad in 2012, but he has made most of his cash overseas to date, starring in the Slovenian League and more recently drumming up interest in the NBA again as he continues to improve.
As captured by Sportando, he believes he now has an NBA-ready game:
"Zoran Dragic: My heart is with @unicajaCB but I think I'm ready to go to the NBA http://t.co/zvMcduHnhB
— Sportando (@sportando) September 18, 2014"
The motivation from the Suns here seems to be obvious.
For one, Zoran is quality depth. Make no mistake, the roster is loaded with talent such as Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas, among others, but key minutes and a strong shooting stroke should an injury occur is never a bad thing to have.
There is an underlying storyline to the potential signing, too. Goran is an unrestricted free agent after the season, and while it sounds like he wants to be back, having his brother rostered certainly does not hurt.
Goran was a key cog for a team last year that shocked the league thanks to its superb depth. Zoran can be a big part of that right along with his brother.
Evan Turner in Limbo
We heard back in August that journeyman and alleged bust Evan Turner had agreed to terms with the Boston Celtics.
Since then, crickets.
Now there appears to be some sort of life in this transaction, as noted by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com:
Turner certainly needs a chance with a new team, even if it comes in a reduced role. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft has in no way lived up to his billing to date:
| 2010 | PHI | 78 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 7.2 |
| 2011 | PHI | 65 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 9.4 |
| 2012 | PHI | 82 | 6.3 | 4.3 | 13.3 |
| 2013 | IND | 81 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 14.0 |
Perhaps a rotational capacity in Boston will change that. Rather than being a primary scorer, Turner can be an off-ball presence who works in with names such as Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace and James Young.
Either way, the highly anticipated, low-risk, very high-reward maneuver to bring on Turner will eventually get done. Or so says the mill.
Money Time for Ricky Rubio?
At just 23 years of age after averaging 7.3 assists or better in each of his first three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, there is already chatter about getting Ricky Rubio an extension on his contract.
KSTP.com passes along word that the organization is working hard with Rubio's agent, Dan Fegan, to get something ironed out: "KSTP's Darren Wolfson hears the Wolves are willing to do a 4-year deal in the $40 million range, and that Fegan, at least initially, is seeking the 5-year maximum, which is worth in the neighborhood of $90 million."
ESPN.com's Ethan Strauss provided a humorous look at a scenario in which Rubio actually hit the open market:
Rubio is certainly not a great finisher at the rim, nor does he strike fear into defenders with his jump shot, but he does most other things at a high level to the point where it is safe to think he may be one of the best in the league sooner rather than later if he continues to develop at his current clip.
With Kevin Love out of the picture, Rubio is a key piece to the puzzle in what has the look of a promising rebuild along with Andrew Wiggins and a host of others. In fact, Wiggins happens to be the main reason the Timberwolves should do whatever it takes to keep Rubio on board, as his on-court efficiency will help the impressionable rookie develop at a rapid pace.
But Rubio has to stick around for that plan to come to fruition.
Stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
