Apr. 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin in the first quarter at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Season Averages: Season Averages: MIN: 33.5 |FG%: .443 |3P%: .319 |FT%: .748 |REB: 3.1|AST: 7.4|BLK: 0.3|STL 1.6|PTS: 14.7

Eric’s Comments:

Dragic had a really good year, especially after the all-star break. His numbers won’t wow you though because of the inefficiency and sub-par level of talent around him. He  averaged only 7.4 assists per game, because a pass that would have been an assist, wasn’t, because the person receiving the pass couldn’t finish the play with a bucket.

Also, he is forced to be a scoring point guard, due to the lack of a dominant post-scorer (other than Scola sometimes, but he is slightly past his prime and isn’t dominant like Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph of Memphis).

Dragic is the foundation of this Suns team. However, he shouldn’t be the go-to scorer. If we can draft or trade for a go-to-scorer or future superstar this team could be decent.

To me, it seems that each player is playing slightly more of a role than they should on a successful team. For example,Dragic should be the second-option on offense, sort of like Chris Paul with the Clippers when they aren’t feeding Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan down low. Jared Dudley and Wesley Johnson are great spot-up shooters, but their effectiveness is lessened when the defense can focus on them. P.J. Tucker can’t be your starting small forward with his limited offensive skills and above average (but not amazing defense), but the Suns had to have him starting over Michael Beasley. Tucker needs to be the seventh guy in the rotation to give defensive toughness and a spark of energy off the bench.

Overall, Dragic was the least of Phoenix’s problems this dismal season and is almost their only bright  spot for the future in terms of building blocks.

Grade: A

Matt’s Comments:

Goran Dragic’s second-half performance protected him as well as the Suns front office from serious criticism. Prior to the all-star break many Suns fans were grabbing the Dragon by the collar and were getting ready to throw him under the bus but fortunately for everyone, Dragic stepped up in a big way in the second-half of the season and lived up to that big contract he got from the Suns this past offseason.

All in all, Dragic’s stat line for the 2012-2013 NBA season was relatively unimpressive. 14.7 points, 7.4 assists, and just 32% shooting from downtown. Dragic struggled throughout the season with his long ball except during the months of November and April when he shot around 40% from downtown but looking at his three point percentages from all the other months, 29% in December, 24.5% in January, 29% in February, and 31% in March.

At this point it’s tough to be too excited about Dragic’s second half performance because of his first half performance. Keep in mind Suns fans that Dragic played at an even higher level during the games he started in during the second-half of the season when he was with the Rockets, and that play barely translated to the next season.

Grade: B

Nov. 17, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Heat forward Shane Battier (31) and Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) fall to the ground while going after the ball in the second half at US Airways Center. The Heat defeated the Suns 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

This what it boils down to right? Six games left on the schedule, in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, bottom feeders of the western conference, playing for draft position, and what does all of that equate to? Shutting down the veterans.

Goran Dragic has had a fine second-half, but it’ll be ideal for the Suns to terminate him for the remainder of the season for many reasons.

First being to give the young Kendall Marshall more court time. Marshall has been less than effective as Dragic’s back-up but in the two games Marshall has started he averaged 11.5 assists in the two contests. Marshall has shown that he’s capable of running an offense but the bottom line is, the kid can’t learn by playing 10 minutes a night.

Second would be to avoid injury. It’s no secret that Dragic plays an aggressive style of basketball and as many of us witnessed last night in the game between the Suns and Warriors, Dragic was fouled on a made three-pointer and came down awkwardly on his ankle. Dragic and the Suns were fortunate that Dragic didn’t get hurt on that play but the Suns wouldn’t want to risk having Dragic suffer a serious injury in the final six games of the season that might potentially affect him going into next season.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, draft position. Yes, we all hate the concept of tanking, it’s unethical and it’s bad for the sport but it’s the way the system works. I wrote a piece awhile back making reference to the 1968 Philadelphia Eagles back in 1968 when the Eagles won two meaningless regular season games after losing their first 11 games of the season. Those two wins ultimately kept the Eagles from drafting hall of fame running-back O.J Simpson. The Suns must avoid making the same mistake. The Suns have already lost 53 games on the year, what’s a few more? 

“We’re just kind of shutting him down,” Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter said before the game against the Jazz last month. “He’s been playing a whole lot of minutes and we’re going to give him a break periodically through these last couple of games. If you watched him come out of games, he’s looked like he’s been in a brawl.”

The season was flushed down the crapper before it even began. It’s imminent that Goran Dragic is the Suns best player, and he will be the commander of the star ship moving forward.

At this point with little significance left in what has been one of the worst seasons in franchise history, it’s a good idea for the Suns to shut down Goran Dragic for insurance purposes and start building towards next year.