In comparison to some prospects who do not want to ‘risk’ working out for a NBA team prior to the Draft … with an attitude like this:
This young man [6-4, 200 lbs] has a chance to make it in the ‘Valley of the Sun’.
I was practising with the national team, because we have qualification for Olympic Games. Then my agent called me. He said, ‘You must go to Phoenix.’ So … so, 6 [AM] in the morning I pack my stuff and I go to Paris, Paris to LA, and LA to Phoenix … so I was trying like 15 hours … so, I’m exhausted … but, but I have strength for this, so … Like this is my life, basketball, so … I’m going to do everything that takes. - Goran Dragic
Tags: Goran Dragic, Steve Kerr, Terry Porter
August 18, 2008 at 6:54 pm |
Goran Dragic looks real good. But why did the Spurs draft him and then trade him away for Malik Hairston when they need a young point guard.
August 18, 2008 at 9:04 pm |
San Antonio doesn’t need a younger PG to pair with Tony Parker.
TP is still a young player himself and is actually a better fit with an older more experienced PG.
August 18, 2008 at 9:25 pm |
Yeah but there trying to get younger. Which is why keeping Goran Dragic would have been a good move. They did draft George Hill but I don’t know if he’s going to be that good yet. Since Jannero Pargo left I see the Spurs playing George Hill more.
August 18, 2008 at 9:29 pm |
George Hill … IS going to be a solid NBA player.
The Spurs roster does need to get younger … but not at the PG position.
August 19, 2008 at 6:52 am |
Have either of y’all seen him play in a game? Dragic I mean? Obviously he looks good here, it’s a mostly-unguarded tryout.
August 19, 2008 at 7:13 am |
Personally, I haven’t seen Dragic play in a game yet.
Thus far, I like his intelligence, his attitude and his overall size.
However, there are also different aspects of his game which are still questionable … and will not be resolved until he can be seen first-hand in live game action.
Men like Kerr & Porter (and Nash) should have a solid idea what it takes to be a good PG in the NBA.
August 19, 2008 at 7:50 am |
Yeah, they should. If there’s any team that needs to get younger at PG it’s Phoenix.
August 29, 2008 at 12:07 am |
Here’s some highlights of him playing in Europe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bUiaEzhBwY. Hard to take away a whole lot from a highlight reel, but he seems like a competitor – not soft. Transitioning to the NBA will be hard, but he should have some pretty good mentors in Nash and Porter. The Spurs did trade the Suns the rights to Leandro Barbosa a few years ago, so hopefully Dragic joins him as the one the Spurs let get away…
August 29, 2008 at 2:39 am |
Khandor- I would call Damon Stoudamire and Jacque Vaughn from last season pretty old. I still think the Spurs made a mistake trading away Goran Dragic for Malik Hairston. He’s probably going to be another Leandro Barbosa (good player that the Spurs gave away).
August 29, 2008 at 8:51 am |
Dragic is not the 2nd coming of Barbosa.
At this early point of his career, the player he resembles most might be …
Not a bad European pro to emulate.
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The Spurs seem to prefer a PG tandem which sees Tony Parker as (in fact) the ‘youngster’ … coupled with an older, more experienced vet who doesn’t mind sitting on the bench for an elite level team, but who can bring the goods defensively when their starter needs a rest.
In contrast, those who see the Spurs as being ‘old’ at the PG spot might not realize that TP is still just 26 years of age and hasn’t even reached his physical maturity yet.
The Spurs won’t NEED a young PG for a few years … and, instead, NEED to get younger up front and on the wings.
August 29, 2008 at 11:50 am |
Tony Parker isn’t old. And he plays the whole game anyways. But the Spurs do need to get younger at the back up point guard position. After having both Jacque Vaughn and Damon Stoudemire there last season. This is why they drafted George Hill.
As for Goran Dragic if the Spurs had him they might have left him in Slovenia. But the Suns really needed a back up point guard badly and brought him over. I think Goran Dragic is going to be a solid player and the Spurs are going to regret trading him away like they did with (Luis Scola, Leandro Barbosa).
The Spurs frontline is pretty old. But Ian Mahinmi must be better next year.
August 29, 2008 at 1:30 pm |
Travis,
George Hill is more of a combo guard than a straight-up PG.
While the Spurs still view Parker as a youngish player look for them to keep going with an established (defensive focused) vet as his primary back-up.
Once TP fully matures, that’s a different story. At that point … in 3-5 more years … look for them to give some serious back-up minutes to another young buck who they think is capable of being their #1 PG down the road.
History has shown that Pop & Buford know full well what they are doing.
April 8, 2009 at 9:57 pm |
Good time. And ,