Paul Coro

USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic offered more clarity on his preference to leave the team via trade or as a free agent.

Speaking early this afternoon at US Airways Center, Dragic indicated the bond between himself and team that drafted him is irretrievably broken.

"I don't trust them anymore," Dragic said following Wednesday's practice session. "It happens too many times. Two, three times.

"They give promises, OK. It's hard. But at the same time, I wish them all the best. They were great to me the past five years. I'm always going to have a good memory about Phoenix fans and the city. I just hit that point of my career that it's better for me and my family to move on."

The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, and the Suns are involved in discussions. USA TODAY Sports first reported Dragic's trade request.

Dragic has lost trust in the Suns organization because they have brought in two other point guards, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas, and reduced his playmaking role since he returned to Phoenix during free agency in 2012 to be Steve Nash's heir apparent.

The Suns, who traded for Dragic in 2011, traded for Bledsoe in 2013 when he was one of the most-sought trade commodities and created a dual-playmaker backcourt. Dragic thrived when Bledsoe missed half of the season and they ultimately found chemistry for a 48-win season.

Dragic was content in that setup, but the addition of another starting-quality point guard in Thomas has put Dragic almost exclusively off the ball no matter if Thomas or Bledsoe are paired with him or if the Suns are in a three-point-guard lineup.

Dragic underscored Wednesday the importance of that role change.

"I don't feel comfortable with my situation," he said, adding, "It's just different. Standing in the corner, it's not my game. I see that we're not going the right direction. That's why I take action and try to put myself in a better position."

Even if the Suns traded Thomas, Dragic's mind is set on leaving Phoenix in July free agency.

Dragic, who championed the Suns re-signing Bledsoe last April, wants to be able to run his own team.

As many as eight teams have expressed interest in trading for Dragic, who has expressed his own interest in going to Indiana, Miami, New York or the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns' ability to make a deal will not be helped by Dragic's stance or contract situation. Dragic will opt out of his current deal after this season and be an unrestricted free agent.

Even off the ball, Dragic's 50.1% shooting this season has nearly matched last season, although his three-point clip has dropped from 40.8% last season to 35.5% this season.

Dragic earned All-NBA third-team honors last season when he averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists in 35.1 minutes per game. He is averaging 16.2 points and 4.1 assists in 33.4 minutes per game this season.

The Suns pledged to be active this week on the trade market with a roster that has more players for two backcourt positions than three frontcourt spots and a half-game hold on the Western Conference's final playoff position. After a 1-5 slide into the break, the Suns have a tenuous hold on the spot with Oklahoma City charging from behind.

Suns coach Jeff Hornacek understands his guard's frustration.

"It's obvious, with the guards, he might be unhappy with it," he said. "That's just part of it, adjusting to things. Was it ideal? No. Would it have got to where it was last year? Maybe."

The Suns signed Goran's younger brother, Zoran, to a two-year contract in the offseason, assumedly to help keep Goran satisfied in Phoenix.

Dragic, 28, has spent all or parts of six seasons with the Suns, who drafted him in the second round in 2008.

Paul Coro writes for The Arizona Republic and is a member of USA TODAY Sports' NBA power rankings panel.