The Toronto Raptors added an experienced scorer with championship experience this offseason when they picked up veteran point guard Goran Dragic in the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. However, considering his age and his own comments about how he isn’t too keen on Toronto, he isn’t expected to remain in Canada for a very long time.
Dragic not only doesn’t fit Toronto’s timeline, as Masai Ujiri is looking to get younger, but he likely wants to end up on a team with a better chance at competing for a championship. The Dallas Mavericks not only can give him a chance to compete, but he could play alongside countryman Luka Doncic in the backcourt.
The Raptors appear unwilling to move Dragic just yet, both because he could provide them with a quality bench player and because they don’t want to give him up for pennies on the dollar. Even with that, Dallas is calling Toronto’s bluff, as they don’t expect Dragic to be a Raptor for much longer.
Per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, who appeared on a live show on the Halftime Sports app, the Mavericks are still expecting that the Raptors will buy Dragic out, leaving him free to sign with Dallas. The Mavericks want to make their all-Slovenian backcourt a reality, and they aren’t giving up hope that Toronto will part ways with Dragic before the season.
Goran Dragic expected to get bought out and sign with the Mavericks, per report https://t.co/suNOHGF3KK pic.twitter.com/1Uq3dYfW3i
— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) September 3, 2021
The Mavericks are expecting the Toronto Raptors to part with Goran Dragic.
Dragic averaged 13.4 points per game on 43% shooting last season, so no matter where he ends up, he can still get to the rim, pull up from deep, and make the incisive passes that have almost become a trademark for him.
It might be hard for Toronto to find a trade partner right before training camp, as teams are generally unwilling to acquire a 35-year-old point guard making just under $20 million this year weeks before the preseason kicks off.
Getting Goran Dragic would be a better way to help the backcourt depth imo. https://t.co/bBJCawD9FQ
— Dalton Trigg (@dalton_trigg) September 3, 2021
The most likely scenario that happens, considering Toronto likely doesn’t want to give away a player of Dragic’s caliber for nothing, is that he gets traded away at the trade deadline. Dallas won’t be the only suitor, but they’ll likely be at the forefront in their attempts to appease Doncic.
While trading Dragic might not be able to give Toronto a king’s ransom given the state of Dallas’ balance sheet, getting some players and draft capital for a 35-year-old point guard isn’t a bad arrangement. A Dragic move is likely coming between now and the deadline, the only questions are related to his destination and the assets the Raptors will get back.