Goran Dragic Trade Fizzling Leaves Star-Hungry Rockets Looking for Answers Again

For a few hours in July, Daryl Morey was the belle of the NBA general managers ball, on the precipice of pulling off perhaps the most impressive two-year coup in league history.

In one press of the publish button of Sports Illustrated's content management system—this one containing LeBron James' first-person letter announcing his return to Cleveland—the McDreamy of MIT had gone from scrounging for free-agent scrap heaps to the clubhouse leader to land a suddenly very available Chris Bosh. 

The next few hours played out like a fever dream. With the NBA at large assuming Bosh was headed to Houston, Morey negotiated with Bosh while agreeing in principle to a series of deals designed to open up maximum contract space. He'd then turn around and match the Mavericks' offer sheet to Chandler Parsons, creating a four-headed monster that'd turn Houston into instant championship favorites.

Of course, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

Bosh, armed with a five-year max deal from Pat Riley, chose loyalty over championships to stay in Miami. Morey then let Parsons walk to Dallas, the general manager becoming a source of scorn from media and fans alike. He left July as perhaps the biggest loser of the entire free-agency period. The belle became the ungainly beast in the time it took to drive from Dallas to Houston.

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

A half-year later, those few hours and the subsequent backlash have been largely forgotten—mostly due to moves of Morey's doing. The Rockets are 36-17, tied with Portland for third place in the Western Conference. James Harden is an MVP candidate. The likes of Joey Dorsey, Jason Terry and Kostas Papanikolaou have contributed far more than could have ever been expected. Corey Brewer sacrificed a $4.9 million player option, per Grantland's Zach Lowe, and Josh Smith sacrificed a starting spot and his malcontent reputation to facilitate moves to Houston.

Things are, generally speaking, going pretty well. But Morey remains stuck in the same rut he's been for nearly two full years now: on the fringes of title contention.

The Rockets, as currently constituted, are not equipped to win three rounds against their Western Conference gauntlet. They are eighth in defensive efficiency overall but 24th in crunch-time situations, worst among teams that would currently qualify for the playoffs. They're about five points worse defensively and are playing about even against teams whenever Dwight Howard isn't on the floor, per Basketball-Reference, which is a bit of a problem given Howard's near-constant knee pain.

Houston remains a piece or two away from true contention, which made Marc Stein of ESPN.com's report linking them to Suns point guard Goran Dragic no surprise. Morey already acquired Dragic from Phoenix once before allowing him to walk back to the Suns in free agency. The Slovenian has since evolved into one of the NBA's most unique players, a whirling dervish of nifty offensive moves that can at times remind you of peak Manu Ginobili. 

He's also miserable. 

USA Today's Sam Amick reported late Tuesday that Dragic's representatives informed the Suns he had no interest in re-signing this summer and would prefer to be traded before Thursday's deadline. Dragic holds a player option for $7.5 million next season but is widely expected to opt out. He could command a five-year deal near the $100 million max.

Even if you don't feel Dragic is a max player—I don't, for what it's worth—that fifth year gives teams leverage. The Rockets, for instance, could smooth out a non-max offer over a longer time frame, giving them potential wiggle room in 2016 when the cap is expected to skyrocket. Adding a star-level player with Bird rights would also be huge for Houston in the interim, as it's unlikely to have max-level room this summer.

One issue: Along with Dragic's trade request came a list of teams he's willing to re-sign with long-term. Seven teams are on it. Houston isn't one. Whether it's bad blood left from the Rockets' tepid pursuit when he left in free agency or concern about his ability to play with James Harden—the main reason Dragic desires a trade is Phoenix's ball-handler logjam; Harden is the Rockets' de facto point guard and franchise face—it appears Morey is again going to have the superstar window slammed in his face.

This begs the question: What's next?

We know the Rockets are going to be active until the final seconds of Thursday's deadline. They always are. Morey will find one or two deals that bring back either bench depth or long-term assets. Maybe they dangle a second-round pick in Denver's face for Jameer Nelson or even dip their toes in the Reggie Jackson waters.

The more interesting questions surface after this season. It's unlikely, barring an unexpected blockbuster, Morey finds the trade that puts Houston over the title contender hump this season. The number of stars traded at or near the deadline has dwindled rapidly in this collective bargaining agreement; they're either dealt in December or January or not at all.

The Rockets also aren't serious players for a major free agent this summer. They have just under $55 million in guaranteed money committed for 2015-16, putting them $12 million under the NBA's rough estimate of a $67 million cap. That's without re-signing restricted free agent Patrick Beverley, whom the front office would like back, or guaranteeing Isaiah Canaan's $947,276 salary.

Houston could in theory look to trade Trevor Ariza and wind up with around $20 million to spend, but the list of potential difference-makers is minimal. Rajon Rondo appears happy in Dallas. Same for Marc Gasol in Memphis. LaMarcus Aldridge is the best-case scenario given his Texas ties, but dudes who are planning to bolt in free agency don't typically gut through torn ligaments to help their current team. 

Paul Millsap, Draymond Green and Greg Monroe are all options. Kevin Love is one if he decides he's had enough of playing the Chris Bosh role of third-wheel whipping boy in Cleveland. Love would be a deja-vu dream scenario, with his situation playing out almost exactly like Howard's one-year failed experiment with the Lakers.

But all of the above scenarios fit into two categories: highly unlikely or wholly disappointing. It'd be hard for anyone to look back on the Harden-Howard-Bosh-Parsons four-headed monster and not be dejected if Morey's third star winds up being Monroe or Millsap.

And while Morey's resume would indicate he's unlikely to be pushed into such panic moves, he knows better than anyone time is of the essence. Howard came to Houston to win championships and has a player option in 2016. He also turns 30 in December and is a big man with a history of back and knee problems. Harden turns 26 later this year; he'll never be better at basketball than he will be over the next 12-18 months.

Morey's not immune to internal pressure, either. Eight seasons into his tenure with one playoff series win won't cut it for much longer in today's NBA. Landing Howard and Harden was part of one of the better nine-month runs for an executive in league history, but it's Morey's third coup that will define his tenure.

The clock's ticking. Faster than anyone realizes.

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