Goran Dragic is one of the two best players on a team in position to potentially make the playoffs. He has asked to be traded specifically to one of three teams, all of which are much worse than his current team. One of those teams is the worst squad in the entire league.
The targeted cities -- Miami, New York and L.A. -- have the nation's best nightlife and the teams based there have traditionally been open to spending huge sums on payroll. The teams also offer an opportunity for Dragic, named one of the league's top six guards last season, to have a massive role as he wraps up a contract year.
So, Dragic is requesting to be traded from a rather good team to one of three rather bad teams for some combination of money, spotlight and nightlife. This is the most stereotypical NBA trade demand of all time. And it's coming from Goran Dragic.
Compare this move to the last "stereotypical NBA trade demand," when Carmelo Anthony requested a move to the Knicks in 2010 and 2011. Melo had picked one city, and that was in part based on his wife's career. Otherwise, it was a similar deal. Melo wanted to leave a good team for a historically poor one, primarily due to a combination of money* and location, with wins and championships a far lower priority. And Melo got killed for it in the media.
* Melo requested the trade because that would net him a larger contract than if he'd just waited for free agency and signed with New York outright.
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By my count, Dragic's request is even more brash, especially coming just days before the deadline. Melo's simmered for months, well in advance of his free agency.
Dragic's list of acceptable destinations is a combined 45-113 this season. At least the Knicks in 2010-11 had floated to a respectable .500ish level with Amare Stoudemire as Melo pushed. At least there had been talk about adding a third star (like Chris Paul) and creating a superteam. There's none of that with Dragic. And he can't honestly believe he'll be better off playing with Nick Young and Wes Johnson than with Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris.
It'll be interesting to see how the media treats Dragic, especially if he lands on a preferred team. My overriding position is that we shouldn't really care that certain people have different career and life priorities than others or ourselves. But if there was ever reason to ridicule an NBA diva for his blatant embodiment of the stereotypes of the modern NBA star, it's Dragic and it's now.