"It has been nearly a year since Goran Dragic was awakened by Steve Nash on a Suns team flight and told that he had been traded.

It seemed like a joke, like when Nash converted Leandro Barbosa into an Avatar to wake up Robin Lopez on a flight for a video. But it was the stark truth and it felt like a separation from the only American family the Slovenian had.

Dragic missed Phoenix, but let it go quickly last year to finish strongly with Houston in a season that his struggles reflected the Suns' bench problems.

Dragic would like to make a better showing against the Suns than in two post-trade meetings last season, when he did not make a shot in 20 minutes, and show how he feels he is in a good basketball place. Dragic is on a 12-10 team and averaging career bests for points (7.9), assists (3.7) and minutes (20.0) as Kyle Lowry's backup and occasional backcourt partner.

"Last year, I needed time to adjust and then I did again with a new coach (Kevin McHale) and a new vision," Dragic said. "I was really happy in Phoenix. I was really sad when they traded me. I miss all the coaches, the players and the city. I'm really grateful for what they did for me. They gave me an opportunity to play. But right now, I'm really happy in this situation. I found my spot here. You have to adjust and be strong."

Dragic still runs a lot of pick-and-rolls but has become more of a pressure defender. His free-throw shooting shot up (81 percent) but his 3-point shooting dropped (28 percent)."