Return To The Desert: Goran Dragic Signs 4-Year Deal With Phoenix Suns

Suns Agree To Terms With Goran Dragic, According To Report

When the Suns traded Steve Nash to the Lakers on Wednesday, it left them with a gaping hole at point guard. It didn't take Phoenix long to start filling that hole, agreeing to a four-year, $34 million deal with Goran Dragic several hours.

Going online now: Suns move quickly after Steve Nash trade and strike four-year deal with Goran Dragic worth $34 million, sources tell ESPN

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 5, 2012

The deal will bring Dragic back to Phoenix, where he played his first two and a half seasons. Originally a second- round pick of the Spurs in 2008 whose rights were later acquired by Phoenix, Dragic was traded by the Suns along with a first-round pick for Aaron Brooks during the 2010-11 season.

Dragic averaged a career-high 11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game last year while starting 28 games for the Rockets. He will join recent first-round pick Kendall Marshall in attempting to replace Nash in Phoenix.

For more on the Suns, visit Bright Side of the Sun and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Rockets, visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.

Goran Dragic Rumors: Bobcats Make Offer, Suns In Pursuit

The Charlotte Bobcats have prepared an offer for unrestricted free agent point guard Goran Dragic, according to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but with Wednesday's trade that sent Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns may be in hot pursuit of the 26-year-old Slovenian point man, who played for the Houston Rockets last season:

Sources w/knowledge of Suns' plans say PHX now making hard push to sign free agent Goran Dragic. Raps also trying to sign PG away from HOU

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 4, 2012

As you may remember, Dragic spent the first two-plus seasons of his NBA career with with Suns before being traded (along with a first-round draft pick) to the Rockets for Aaron Brooks in February 2011. Dragic appeared in all 66 games of the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season for Houston, making 28 starts and averaging a career-best 11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.

Clearly, the Nash trade has created a domino effect. The Suns are now in need of a young, solid point guard, meaning Dragic's value on the free agent market has increased. But will the Bobcats' offer win out?

For more on the Suns, please visit Bright Side of the Sun and SB Nation Arizona. For more on the Bobcats, visit Rufus on Fire.

NBA Free Agency Rumors: Goran Dragic, Rockets Still Apart On Contract Negotiations

Many assumed that the Houston Rockets would easily re-sign point guard Goran Dragic, but it appears negotiations have not gone as planned so far. Dragic is seeking a contract that would pay him in excess of $10 million a season, and the Rockets are unwilling to meet that price at this time, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

The Rockets met with Dragic on Monday in Houston and were hopeful of reaching terms quickly with the Slovenian, who averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 assists in 32 games after the All-Star break following an injury to Kyle Lowry.

But Dragic left town without a deal, sources said, leading one source close to the process to say that the lefty's expected return to the Rockets is "not going to happen."

Dragic emerged as a starter after taking over for the sick Kyle Lowry, averaging 18 points and 8.4 assists in 28 starts last season. But Lowry is still under contract, and the Rockets may not want to sink so much money into two point guards.

If Dragic cannot agree to terms with the Rockets, he could very well return to the Phoenix Suns, who traded for him on draft day in 2008. The Suns, meeting with the point guard later in the week, appear ready to move on from Steve Nash and have plenty of cap space to potentially meet Dragic's asking price.

For more on the Rockets, please visit The Dream Shake and SB Nation Houston.