How Goran Dragic could help the Los Angeles Lakers: Makes his teammates better
Dragic isn’t the flashiest player, the quickest player, the best shooter, or even the most athletic. He will never be mistaken for Kyrie Irving or Russell Westbrook or Steph Curry. Not many players in history are these players, but one trait that Dragic has that is great is his ability to make those around him better.
Ever since his days with Phoenix, Dragic could elevate the level of play of less talented teammates. With Miami, he was able to help Hassan Whiteside secure the bag long term with a 4 year $98m deal.
While he is not starting for the Heat now, he is still making a meaningful impact on the court and helping each of the players on his team improve.
With the Heat focusing on Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro long term at the guard spots, it makes sense to bench Dragic to allow them to develop, but his days of helping his team are far from over.
Imagining Dragic running with a second unit of:
- PG Dragic
- SG Caldwell-Pope
- SF Kuzma
- PF Davis
- C Howard
Dragic could run the pick and roll to perfection with Davis and Howard. He could get KCP and Kuz open shots regularly and with Davis on the floor, Dragic is also going to get some easy shots for himself.
Even if the Los Angeles Lakers ran with a smaller lineup at times, say for example:
- PG Bradley
- SG Dragic
- SF Green
- PF James
- C Davis
This offers the Los Angeles Lakers supreme defense across the floor, along with elite 3 point shooting
Inserting him with the starting group also leads to easy buckets. Have him come off the bench and he is just as effective.
With Dragic, you simply just get a player who in his DNA just wants to win and make everyone around him better, a fantastic trait he was able to pick up from Steve Nash.
Like Nash, Dragic still hasn’t won a ring as a player.
Dragic has had a long career in the NBA. It is about time he joins a contender and gets that ring that has eluded him.