Zoran Dragic discussing NBA deal with 4 interested: Heat, Spurs, Mavs, Magic.

[benefactor]

Wow...I go to bed and Chinook spills grey blood all over the thread.

[smaka]

I wouldn't mind having him, personality wise, he would be great with the Spurs - team player, high energy guy, great for team chemistry. Can play both SG and SF. As some said before me, he is a great defender, but lacks consistent shooting. On a night when he is hot, he could shoot 3s 4/4, like he did in a game a couple of days ago, but his shot still isn't consistent enough to be a reliable shooter. But let's not forget who Chip Engelland is and what he's done for many Spurs players; I think he could help Zoran improve a lot. He is a hard working guy, so...

If any team lands him this season, I expect it to be Phoenix or Indiana, both for same reason - to keep/attract Goran. As for Phoenix, I don't know how Zoran could get any playing time, seeing how many SG and SFs they already have.

[Ice009]

Texas Ranger gave a quote good breakdown regarding his strengths and weaknesses.

Yes, I think his defense could be on a very high level; he stopped Francisco Garcia and James Harden well in the past few days.. The more I think about it the more he seems Spurs material; Chip could make him a really good rotation player.

Yeah, sorry, I read that after I replied to your post. Thanks.

[ace3g]

How does a thread go from Zoran Dragic to some tangent about Matt Bonner?

Welcome to the internet.

[littlecoyotecoin]

Better than talking about Dragic anyway. No way he makes sense for the Spurs. Would rather have Hanga, and I don't want him over, either.

I would prefer Hanga, too, as he would provide a more diverse skill-set than this Dragic would seem to provide. Dragic would seem a poor man's Belinelli. We already have the real one. Hanga would provide more defense, althletic ability - slashing, shot blocking/rim protection, steals (although I read he gambles a little too much on them), fast-break/transition D. His shooting isn't horrible. I guess he's not coming over, but would be counted with you as being more interested in seeing him than this Dragic. Hanga would add more variety to the toolbox.

[Kamnik]

Dragič and Bellinelli are not the same type of player really.

Dragič is a better defender, rebounder, stronger, can defend SFs...

Bellinelli is a better shooter and has better handles.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I wouldnt mind him if he was a consistent shooter. He'd be the 3rd best perimiter defender after Kawhi and Danny... Could be even better than Danny.

Dragic? I didn't see defensive highlights, is he a good defender?

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Dragič and Bellinelli are not the same type of player really.

Dragič is a better defender, rebounder, stronger, can defend SFs...

Bellinelli is a better shooter and has better handles.

Agree about Belli, but Dragic absolutely will not be able to defend SFs in the NBA. He'll also need to improve his 3pt shot to earn any significant time on the floor.

[littlecoyotecoin]

Obviously, I'm gonna assume your bias is why you made that last comment. However, you clearly have a better grasp on Zoran than most of us do. What's there to like about him? Would he be able to get minutes over Beli?

I see I am a little late with my questions.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I wouldn't mind having Dragic on the Spurs. But I'm sick of seeing threads with proven players that the Spurs are interested in, get rejected by the same hipsters. You know, the guys who make cases for dudes like Hanga, Bertans, Richards, and also made a case for De Colo when he first got here

Who makes a case for Hanga? I think I am the only one that has mentioned him in the last 6 months, at all, and that's just optimism about getting someone with some of his athleticism at that position. I don't know if he can play in the NBA, but wouldn't mind him getting his shot before his window closes. But, there is definitely no ground swell of support or discussion of him. Now Bertans -gobbling? All over the place. But, you've over-stated your case, somewhat.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I am not really bias, most of the time i don't like Slovenian players and complain about them but Zoran is a pretty good player.

My report on him would be:
+ great defensive player, both off and on ball... I think he's allowed to play more with hands on defense here in Europe but I am sure he'd adapt to the NBA rules.
+ good in fast breaks.
+ great energy guy, with him you're are sure that you will get 100% in an important game or in a preseason game.
+ team player. He won't force himself on offense and can be effective even if not scoring.

- Shooting. Just like his brother when he first got to the league. He can make 5 threes in a row and then not make another in the next 15 tries... I am sure Chip would make him better.
- Ball handling... He's good at it in fast breaks, but on a set up defense, he can still turn it over. But it's not as bad as Danny's.

Right now I don't think he could replace Marco, cause Marco is great for the Spurs offense with his shooting, but he's a lot better than him on defense. But I would't mind him to be the 12th guy. But I guess he'd want some playing time, and in Europe he can get it, so I doubt he'll even come to the NBA.

Thanks. He didn't strike me as a great defender on the reels I saw, but they're highlighting offense, of course. He looks much slower afoot than his brother, even a little plodding. His brother I just remember being much more lithe, smooth...effortless than the guy in these clips.

[DrSteffo]

Zoran should go to the Suns...they have been talking about it for a while. They are into brothers and even twins and they seem to care only about guards for some strange reason.

[littlecoyotecoin]

Re: shooting and handles, thus the "poor man" qualifier. I didn't think he was the defender he's being painted as. I will have to defer to the more educated opinions than mine.

[Kamnik]

I would not copare Zoran to Goran too much.... Goran is an all-star calibre player who is good/great at everything (maybe outside of freethrows).

Zoran's best case scenario is a role player maybe as good/important as Belinelli, Danny Green...

[DrSteffo]

I would not copare Zoran to Goran too much.... Goran is an all-star calibre player who is good/great at everything (maybe outside of freethrows).

Zoran's best case scenario is a role player maybe as good/important as Belinelli, Danny Green...

Agreed. The Sun fans see him as training help and want to keep their star happy.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I would not copare Zoran to Goran too much.... Goran is an all-star calibre player who is good/great at everything (maybe outside of freethrows).

Zoran's best case scenario is a role player maybe as good/important as Belinelli, Danny Green...

I know you're trying to downplay Zoran, but Belli was one our most important regular season players last year. He is an elite shooter, and handles the ball decently. Danny Green has become nearly indispensible. He is an elite defender, and a great shooter. Saying Zoran could achieve what they have, even in a best case scenario is either extremely high praise for Zoran, or maybe throwing those two under a smallish sized bus. I accept that he's no Goran. He doesn't look like him. So I wasn't comparing. I was contrasting. But, again, I will defer to you guys on his upsides. I have only watched some clips. I guess he will be an elite defender, that's where his strength lies?

From this high praise of his defense I am starting to believe that offensive players will be quaking in their high-tops, spreading the word:

"You don't mess with the Zoran."

[wildchild]

Dragič and Bellinelli are not the same type of player really.

Dragič is a better defender, rebounder, stronger, can defend SFs...

Bellinelli is a better shooter and has better handles.

I hope I'wrong but with Messina and Manu's age/injuries, maybe Bellinelli could have a predominant role because without Manu we need a SG who can dictate the flow of the offense. I've this strange feeling that for some bizarre reason someone on the coaching staff could think Belli is that guy...
Plus, we don't know if we can sign Danny next summer -a lot teams will want to sign an elite perimeter defender like him-, so it's a good thing if the Spurs test/prospect the international market for possible candidates.

[spursparker9]

Tbh, the chances of Zoran coming to SA is really small.

Next player please.

[DrSteffo]

Of course I would not expect Zoran to be as good as Danny Green. I see him as a 14-15th man, or not even that.

[wildchild]

Don't have to. I actually charted the whole thing in a thread during the series. Unlike you, I didn't just say "One dunk you stupid ." I actually quantified the performances. Out of the three main Westbrook defenders (Leonard, Green and Parker), Kawhi allowed the highest PPP. Even Beli did better (in a too-small sample size). The main reason for that is that Kawhi fouled Russ eight times, compared to Green and Parker each only fouling him three times.

Ibaka shot 2/8 against Bonner over the final two games of the series.

That thread was a great work.

I think dabom meant by his "one dunk" that Leonard did a great job because he didn't allow Westbrook get many looks in paint -his penetration killed us previous games- holding him to only 1/2 shots at the rim.
That defense should be appreciated, too.

[DrSteffo]

That thread was a great work.

I think dabom meant by his "one dunk" that Leonard did a great job because he didn't allow Westbrook get many looks in paint -his penetration killed us previous games- holding him to only 1/2 shots at the rim.
That defense should be appreciated, too.

Get a room with that other guy and that other guy please. This thread is about Zoran Dragic.

[Kamnik]

TBH, as much as I would love to see him on Spurs too he makes the most sense on the Suns.

They will get him cheap and most importantly it will decrease the price for Goran next year as he will not want to leave. (he is not too money hungry to start with)

The only problem is they are stacked at PG, SG and SF in the coming year. Now if they make a trade or two... that could change. Especially Bledsoe is on the way out one way or another.

[wildchild]

Get a room with that other guy and that other guy please. This thread is about Zoran Dragic.

I already posted about Zoran (and why the Spurs'll continue to move forward in seeking new SG/SF international prospects)...

[DrSteffo]

TBH, as much as I would love to see him on Spurs too he makes the most sense on the Suns.

They will get him cheap and most importantly it will decrease the price for Goran next year as he will not want to leave. (he is not too money hungry to start with). The only problem is they are stacked at PG, SG and SF in the coming year. Now if they make a trade or two... that could change. Especially Bledsoe is on the way out one way or another.

Exactly. But maybe they realize they cannot have a team full of guards...or Zoran understands that he would get close to zero playing time.

[mando6599]

He could be our lefty replacement for when Manu retires.