The Toronto Raptors were able to finally part ways with Goran Dragic after months of consternation. A trade with the Spurs that brought Thad Young to Toronto and the subsequent buyout helped Dragic start to chase his dream of winning a championship this season.
Even though he could’ve played a vital role on a team that is both eyeing postseason play and in dire need of a veteran bench player with shooting skill, Dragic and the Raptors appeared to call an end to this arrangement after just five games. At least he helped get Young back in a trade.
A host of contenders, including the Bucks, Warriors, and Bulls, were interested in signing him for some more second-unit pop. The Slovenian point guard has finally picked a team, and it may have been the outcome this front office was dreading more than any other.
Dragic eventually signed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets to team up with Kyrie Irving and Patty Mills on the depth chart. Not only is Dragic about to play an important role on a potential playoff team, but he’ll do so with one of Toronto’s divisional rivals and play-in contenders.
Just in: Goran Dragic is signing with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 21, 2022
The Toronto Raptors hated to watch Goran Dragic sign with the Nets.
One of the few weak spots on this Nets team was backup point guard Jevon Carter and his poor shooting. Now that he is waived, the Nets can lean on a strong 1-2 punch of an expert shooter in Mills and a crafty veteran in Dragic while Irving sits out. Kyrie coming back will only amplify their offensive punch.
Toronto has a back-to-back against the Nets that will have some high implications on the postseason race. Now that they have someone that has been a proven postseason performer and second-unit standout on the bench in addition to the returns of Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons, Brooklyn looks ready to go on the offensive.
Last year, Dragic averaged 13.4 points per game on 43% shooting. If his numbers even approximate that during his time with the Nets, they may have picked up some much-needed bench depth. Brooklyn is the No. 8 seed at the moment, but there is no guarantee that they stay there.
Goran Dragic is signing a deal with the Nets for the rest of the season, his agent tells @wojespn.
— ESPN (@espn) February 21, 2022
To clear a roster spot for Dragic, Brooklyn is waiving Jevon Carter, sources tell Wojnarowski. pic.twitter.com/NiXxA96Cb6
The Dragic saga is officially over, but some Raptors fans might feel a bit jaded from the whole thing. After getting just five games of production out of him before he left to bolster a division rival, he is likely going to hear a hefty chorus of boos during his return to Toronto.