Dragic says playing for Suns a dream come true

Goran Dragic considers himself the happiest man in the world — even though his supply lines have dried up.

Hoping that a contract buyout with his team, Tau Cerimaca, could be reached quickly, the 22-year-old Slovenian point guard packed only one bag for his trip to Spain before getting the green light and moving on to Arizona this weekend to complete a Suns physical.

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Dragic clears hurdle in quest to join Suns

But his one bag went astray during a connection in Paris — leaving him with just the clothes on his back and a smile on his face.

Dragic passed his physical Tuesday, but will head home without signing a contract while he works out the formal details of his buyout — which could take anywhere from a week to a month — and obtains a work visa.

“It’s been the longest summer of my life. The last few days I was very nervous that I was not going to get here, that my old club might not let me come,” said Dragic, penciled in as Steve Nash’s backup from Day One of training camp this fall. “My dream from 10 years ago was to play in the NBA. I want to play with and to play against the players that I watched on TV at 3 a.m. (in Europe) and learned all their moves and plays. Now I have my chance.”

Dragic said he was told to tell reporters in Spain that he would probably stay with Tau while the details of the buyout were being negotiated.

While he’s getting a contract usually reserved for lottery picks instead of second-rounders, Dragic won’t be rich when his deal is done. Most of the money he’ll make this year (about $1.4 million) is going toward securing his release from Tau, but he said money isn’t on his radar right now. Proving that he can play in the NBA is the only focus.

“I’m not thinking about money. I’m thinking about getting here, playing with Shaquille O’Neal and (Amaré) Stoudemire, learning from Steve Nash and doing my best to earn the respect of the coaches.”

That’s a good idea, because the Suns are expected to hit him with a sink-or-swim workload right away — not only a full-time gig as a backup but even a spot start here and there to save mileage on Nash. Phoenix is hoping that the Dragic, who pestered France’s Tony Parker in last summer’s Eurobasket ’07, will bring size and defensive intensity to a chronic problem area.

“Playing against Tony Parker and winning the game (Slovenia beat France 67-66 when Parker missed a free throw with two seconds left) was so much confidence for me,” he said. “I take defense very serious. It is the way to get playing time. In Europe, if you don’t play defense you are going to have trouble. I am ready to work hard and be ready.”

Dragic admitted he needs to work on his outside shooting and decision-making on offense, but said he loves watching the Suns up-tempo style and is happy to hear new head coach Terry Porter wants to stay the course.

“I run fast and I like to play fast basketball,” he said. “I am ready for this. I have to improve and get better, but this is something I have wanted for my whole life. I am going to prove I can play in NBA.”

BONUS SHOTS

Former Sun Gordan Giricek became the latest NBA reserve to jump/return to Europe for a better deal when he signed a two-year contract in Turkey with Fenerbache. He is expected to earn about 3 million Euros this season.

Giricek, a career 37 percent shooter from 3-point range, has the option to return to the NBA after one season. The Suns, who signed Giricek as a free agent in February, passed on his price tag over the summer and signed free agent Matt Barnes at a much cheaper rate.

The Spurs also talked with Giricek, but felt his price tag was too high.