Knicks Trade Rumors: Big Names Surfacing As Options

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Dec 20, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) defends during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Magic defeated the Heat in a double overtime 136-130. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Goran Dragic, Miami Heat

Position: Point Guard
Age: 30 (5/6/1986)
2016-17 Slash Line: .451/.417/.802
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.4 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 6.7 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.6 3PM

If any player on this list is going to be connected to the New York Knicks, it’s point guard Goran Dragic. Dragic had a successful tenure with the Phoenix Suns while playing for the individual who happens to be the current head coach of the New York Knicks: Jeff Hornacek.

The likelihood of the Knicks trading for Dragic is slim at this current juncture, but his history with Hornacek is all but certain to draw intrigue.

Dragic and Hornacek led an overachieving Suns team to a 48-34 record in 2013-14 and had Phoenix above .500 before the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline. Dragic was traded to the Miami Heat after growing unhappy with questionable decision-making from the front office.

According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical, Dragic and the Heat are both open to the possibility of a trade.

"Dragic is open to a trade, league sources told The Vertical, and Miami has pursued that option. An early season swap with Sacramento for Rudy Gay fell apart when the Heat sought Darren Collison, sources said, and teams that have probed Miami about Dragic have found the Heat open to offers."

Unless Miami recovers from its 9-19 start and becomes a postseason-caliber team, it stands to reason that Dragic could be moved.

The intrigue in this move is that Dragic is currently playing on a team-friendly contract. With both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings likely to command big salaries, it’s intriguing to know that Dragic has an average salary of just $17,000,450.

The rumors that surface will likely be founded more in the obvious connection of Dragic to Hornacek than in truth, however, and that’s why it’s too soon to value it.

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