Raptors: Goran Dragic’s struggles could hurt his trade value

From the moment he was acquired by the Toronto Raptors as part of the Kyle Lowry deal, the assumption has been that Goran Dragic would not stay in Canada for very long. It just didn’t make a lot of sense from either side’s perspective for a 35-year-old veteran looking for one last shot at a championship to play for a rebuilding team looking to develop talent.

Rumors that the Slovenian point guard would be dealt from Toronto to the Dallas Mavericks proved nothing more than speculation. Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster’s intention was to start 2021-22 with Dragic in their lineup.

Presumably, “The Dragon” would show out for the Raptors, drive up his trade value, and then Toronto’s front office would pull the trigger on a trade. But if that’s the plan, it’s not going accordingly so far.

Through Toronto’s first 4 games, Dragic is shooting just 31.8% from the field, averaging 6.0 points, 2.5 boards, and 1.5 assists in 15.5 minutes per game. Dragic has not been able to help his team win, but at the same time he’s eating up minutes that many feel should be going to second-year guard Malachi Flynn, Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020.

Flynn averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 47 games last season and was named East Rookie of the Month in April, but he has played a grand total of three minutes this season and hasn’t even taken his warmups off in three of the four games.

Not only is Toronto essentially Benching Flynn, but they’re doing so while one of their best trade chips is watching his value plummet.

Toronto Raptors guard Goran Dragic is playing poorly, but it’s early.

It’s still very early, and Dragic could certainly find his rhythm yet. After more than 13 seasons in the NBA, this wouldn’t be the first time Dragic has had to shoot his way out of a slump. But considering Dragic is in his mid-30s, this may not be a mere slump. Father Time is undefeated, and Dragic had difficulties in the preseason as well.

The best-case scenario is that Dragic starts to perform more like last season, when he put up 13.4 points in 26.7 minutes per game. The Dragic that helped lead the Heat to the finals probably isn’t coming back.

Failing that, a player of Dragic’s knowledge and experience can still have a positive impact, particularly on a team as young as the Raptors. He’s been nothing but a model professional who appears to be getting along with his Toronto teammates tremendously, but we still need more on offense.

There’s at least one of those on every championship team, but they don’t fetch a lot on the trade market. In fact, they’re more often acquired on the cheap after being bought out by their previous team.

How much longer does Raptors coach Nick Nurse continue deploying Dragic before turning to Flynn and other younger Raps who could use the run? At this point, Dragic’s days as an NBA difference-maker might be numbered, which isn’t ideal for someone of his stature and contract.

Dragic is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $19.4 million this season. The Raptors reportedly had no intention of buying him out. Would Ujiri change his stance, should it come to it? A successful GM is a nimble one.

Goran Dragic may still be with the Toronto Raptors after the trade deadline.

The chance of Dragic remaining a Raptor beyond the trade deadline may seem more likely than it did a week ago. Things change quickly in the NBA, and considering the trade deadline is a few months away, the Dragic situation and subsequent scuttlebutt are bound to take several more twists and turns.

One thing that can be said with certainty is that he needs to play better. For the Raptors. For his trade value. For his future in the NBA.