Toronto Raptors: 3 rotation decisions to make in training camp

3. What kind of role and playing time will Goran Dragic receive?

When the Raptors made the deal with the Heat, they got the classic prospect/vet combo package for their star player. Now, we’ve already talked about Achiuwa, but where does Dragic fit into a team that he reportedly didn’t want to play for originally?

The reality is that Dragic’s value as a player for this team is going to come down to whether the Raptors can start off hot or not. If Nurse and Ujiri think this team can make a serious run at the playoffs, Dragic has to be the unquestionable sixth or seventh man.

During his Miami stint, Dragic was posting 30 minutes a game with 16.2 points and 5.2 assists per game. He’s the floor general point guard who doesn’t just bring ready-made offense with him, but can teach young players like Flynn and Dalano Banton the finer things of being a starting-caliber guard.

Will the Toronto Raptors get some utility out of Goran Dragic?

However, if the Raptors start falling behind, or even if they start to think it’s more of a play-in year than a playoff year, do they start pulling Goran back a bit and prepping him for a trade?

We know Toronto isn’t where Dragic is dying to play, so if a team like the Mavericks gives up some draft capital or a young, promising player, it makes sense to get Flynn more minutes and get as much value out of the Lowry trade as possible.

The first 20 games will ultimately dictate this move, but the coaching staff will need to decide now what comes first. Is it Flynn’s development, or Dragic’s more polished play?