NBA: Suns tap Dragic to help ease Nash departure

In the latest of what has been a busy Fourth of July (July 5, PHL time) for the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting that the Suns have reached an agreement with point guard Goran Dragic that will return the Slovenian to Phoenix on a four-year deal.

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

Dragic, a 2008 second-round pick by the San Antonio Spurs, had his rights traded to Phoenix, who brought him over from TAU Ceramica. The Suns later traded him to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a first round pick during the 2011 trade deadline, where he filled in admirably for an injured Kyle Lowry, putting up career-high averages of 11.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Houston however, was unable to negotiate a contract extension with the unrestricted free agent, thus allowing the Suns to swoop in and sign him to three years, with a player option for a fourth season. Stein reports that the deal is worth an estimated $34 million. The two parties have a verbal agreement in place that will see Dragic sign on July 11 (July 12, PHL time), when the moratorium on new contracts for players is lifted. Earlier in the day, Phoenix traded star point guard Steve Nash to division-rival Los Angeles Lakers, and came to agreement with another unrestricted free agent, forward Michael Beasley. - AMD, GMA News