On February 16, Beijing time, the Spurs officially announced that the team and guard Goran Dragic reached a buyout agreement, the latter will become a full free agent after the clarification period! During the buyout, Dragic gave up $820,000. I'm afraid many fans have a question: Isn't Dragic in the Raptors? When did you go to Spurs?
On the trade deadline (February 11), the Raptors sent Dragic + 2022 first-round picks to the Spurs, receiving Thaddeus Young + Drew-Eubanks + 2022 second-round picks. The deal was a trade that took its own needs, with the Spurs getting a first-round pick and nine first-round picks for the next seven years, while the Raptors cut the team's salary below the luxury tax threshold.
Of course, there are also fans who may think that Dragic is still in the Heat and do not know when he will become a Raptors player. Last offseason, in lowry's first-and-last trade, Dragic and Achuva were sent to the Raptors by the Heat. Dragic has only played in five games for the Raptors this season, averaging 18 minutes per game, scoring 8 points, 2.8 boards, 1.8 assists and 1 steal.
In fact, Dragic has not played for the Raptors since November 14, 2021, and he has not played for three months. On November 29, 2021, the Raptors issued an official statement: Dragic left the team indefinitely due to personal problems. Dragic's original contract was $37.4 million for 2 years and a salary of $19.4 million this season.
Now dragic's big contract has been bought out, and he has become the first big fish in the buyout market. If nothing else, Dragic should sign a basic salary contract next. According to ESPN, The Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Nets, Clippers, Bulls and other teams are chasing Dragic. Good guys, this is going crazy!
Dragic was born on May 6, 1986, and three months later, he will turn 36 years old, and with the fact that he has not played for a long time, why are so many teams chasing him? ESPN said the teams believe Dragic has been training in recent months and that he is in good shape. These two days Dragic and Thomas Jr. have been training in Miami.
Many media speculated that Dragic is not unable to play, he just does not want to play for the Raptors. Last summer, Dragic publicly stated on a TV show: "The Raptors are not my ideal place, I have higher pursuits!" When he arrived in Toronto, the Raptors said they would send him away before the trade deadline.
Since the Raptors don't want to keep him, and Dragic doesn't want to play for the team, why not buy it out sooner? Most likely, the buyout fee cannot be agreed, and the Raptors are reluctant to pay too much money, thinking that they can still exchange Dragic for some chips. Dragic was not part of the Raptors' future plans, and his indefinite departure did not have much impact on the Raptors.
The team that now pursues Dragic the most fiercely is the Bucks! Divinzenzo was traded and Connaughton was injured, straining the Bucks' defensive line. How much oil is left in Dragic's tank? In the 2020-21 season, he played in 50 games for the Heat, averaging 26.7 minutes per game, 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists, and shooting 37.3% from three-point range.
Does Dragic have a chance to return to the Heat? Of course! On February 13, he came to the Heat home stadium to watch the game and was photographed by many Heat fans. In the past week, Dragic has also regularly trained with the Heat's Maurice. Dragic, who lives in Miami, posted a video of him training at home for the Heat in January, but it was quickly removed.
Another potential next home of Dragic is the Lone Ranger, and here is his hometown Doncic! According to Shams, in addition to Dragic, Tristan Thompson is also a target for the Lakers to buy out the market. The Lakers didn't do anything before the trade deadline, and Pelinka made it clear at the time: The team was waiting to buy out the market!
Dragic can become a free agent after a 48-hour clarification period, which team do you think he will choose?