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Knicks Trade Rumors: Five Reasons To Pursue Goran Dragic

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) handles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) handles the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek coaches against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek coaches against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Familiarity With Jeff Hornacek

Easily the most intriguing aspect of a potential trade for Goran Dragic is the possibility of reuniting him with head coach Jeff Hornacek. Dragic and Hornacek had a prosperous union with the Phoenix Suns, both individually and in creating team success.

If the Knicks were to reunite Dragic and Hornacek in New York, they’d go a long way towards addressing the clear and apparent chemistry issues.

As Dragic broke out under Hornacek in 2013-14 with averages of 20.3 points and 5.9 assists on a slash line of .505/.408/.760. He made the All-NBA Third Team and followed with another strong season in 2014-15 despite his validated frustration with Suns management.

For a New York Knicks team that has clear and damaging chemistry issues, landing a player familiar with Hornacek’s ideology would be of great aid.

As for the team, Hornacek’s Suns went 74-54 during the games that Dragic played. That includes a 48-34 overall record in 2013-14—45-31 when Dragic played—and a 29-25 record—29-23 when he played—at the time Dragic was traded in 2014-15.

Not only have Hornacek and Dragic proven to have great individual chemistry, but they know how to win games against a high level of competition.

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Dragic may not address the defensive issues New York has, but he’d help the Knicks develop a team identity on offense. That alone is reason to be intrigued.

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