The Toronto Raptors still have to reckon with the Goran Dragic dilemma as the trade deadline gets closer. The former Miami Heat veteran is currently away from the team as both sides try to find some way to get him in a situation he actually wants to be in.
Dragic never seemed to be comfortable with the idea of playing in Toronto, as his infamous “higher ambitions” quote will go down in Raptors history. Despite a lack of guard depth and a team on the fringes of making it to the postseason, Dragic has had minimal interest in playing this season.
Dragic was placed on a personal leave earlier in the year, though he hasn’t just been relaxing at his home in the intervening period. In fact, Dragic has been galavanting around Miami, showing up to a Heat home game one day before Toronto was supposed to play there.
Dragic was photographed attending a Heat game against the Clippers last night. Dragic might have the OK from management to be away from the team, but this is kind of sad. Desperately attending the home games of a team that traded you away as salary filler in a sign and trade is not a good look.
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1487255006403350530
Toronto Raptors guard Goran Dragic is in Miami watching the Heat.
The Raptors are in a no-win situation Dragic. Keeping him is pointless as long as he chooses to sit out, trading him is almost impossible given his $19.4 million salary, and buying him out would be tough to swallow because the Raptors would’ve had a huge financial anchor hanging off of them for no reason at all.
The Dallas Mavericks have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Dragic for the longest time, but this seems unlikely to happen given his salary. The Raptors might not want to buy Dragic out, but they are running out of options with each passing day.
Mavs Target Goran Dragic Attends Heat Game; Raptors Buyout Coming? https://t.co/pKJXFtGlIb via @GrantAfseth
— Dalton Trigg (@dalton_trigg) January 29, 2022
Dragic could’ve played an integral role on this team. They lack a veteran bench scorer that can serve as the back up point guard, and everything about Dragic’s history in the league suggests he would be willing and able to fill that role.
Instead, he’s chosen to plead for a return to the Heat, whom he can’t even sign with until the first anniversary of the Lowry swap. This is an extremely unprofessional look. Once Dragic bolts Toronto, few will be sad to see him go.