After Dragic reached a buyout deal with the Spurs this season, he was heavily pursued by several teams in the league, including the Lakers, Warriors, Nets, Clippers, Lone Rangers and Bulls. During the All-Star Game, Dragic eventually decided to sign a contract with the Nets, which expires at the end of the season. In order to get Dragic, the Nets decided to cut Javin Carter from the team.
In the offseason of last season, Dragic was sent to the Raptors by the Heat in a deal over Lowry. And because Dragic himself is unwilling to play for the Raptors, the two sides have had a very unpleasant fight this season. Before being traded, according to statistics, Dragic only played in 5 games for the Raptors, averaging only 8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 18 minutes per game, shooting only 38.2%, which is arguably one of the worst performances in his career. After playing five games, Dragic has not played a single game so far.
Eventually, as the trade deadline approached, Dragic was sent to the Spurs by the Raptors, who eventually bought him out because the latter had no intention of keeping Dragic. When Dragic appeared in the buyout market, several teams in the league coaxed it, after all, in the past season, he was still a bench bandit who averaged 16 points per game, and if he could get Dragic, then the rotation lineup of these playoff teams would be well supplemented. According to previous reports, the Lone Ranger led the fight, but in the end, out of consideration for the championship and the recruitment of Nets coach Nash, Dragic chose to join the Nets.
The Nets have been very unhappy this season, and in the offseason, Irving's reluctance to vaccinate him has led to him not playing in any game for a long time. Harden's poor performance allowed Durant to take on the responsibility of leading the team to victory alone, and the Nets were still able to play the top two in the East. Although Irving made a comeback and was able to play away games, the Nets began to fare badly due to Durant's injury, losing 11 straight games and falling to eighth place in the East.
As the trade deadline approached, the Nets sent Harden away, from the 76ers in exchange for Simmons, Curry Jr. and Drummond, the team's lineup was well replenished, and ended the losing streak after the trade. But as far as the current squad is concerned, they also need a defender player who can contribute to the team's offensive firepower. After all, Simmons lacks strong offensive ability from the outside, and Irving is currently unable to play at home. So when the Nets make it to the playoffs, they still need a player who can replace Irving to some extent at home. Eventually, they set the reinforcements on Dragic.
After getting Dragic, the Nets' guard line has undoubtedly been greatly improved. First of all, Dragic was selected to the All-Star Team and the Third Team of the Season's Best Team at his peak, and was elected to the Fastest Progressive Player Award, and the strength is naturally needless to say. While his performance has slipped significantly this season, it's also largely due to his lack of intention to play for the Raptors. In last season's playoffs, Dragic, who played for the Heat, still averaged 16 points and 2.8 assists per game, and although the offensive efficiency was not too high, when he entered the form, his performance on the offensive end could not be ignored.
Second, with Irving unable to attend home games and Simmons' lack of firepower on the outside, Dragic can be an important puzzle for the Nets in terms of scoring and handling the team's offense. Third, before Joining the Lakers at the end of Nash's career, Dragic had been a teammate with him for many seasons, and now Nash has become Dragic's head coach. Based on the years of cooperation, both sides are very familiar with each other, which provides a great convenience for Dragic to integrate into the Nets as soon as possible.
In the end, Dragic's extensive playoff experience will be a valuable asset for the Nets. So far, Dragic has played in the playoffs six times in his career, including the Suns' 2010 playoffs, where he helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals. In the 2019-2020 season, Dragic, who is in the Heat, helped the team reach the Finals, and he averaged 19.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the playoffs that season. For the Nets' current roster, he is the only one on the guard who has had a Finals experience with Irving and Mills, and his experience will play a big role in the playoffs.
For Dragic, the Nets are also a perfect fit for him. He is now about to turn 36 and has little time left in his career, and although he once reached the Finals, he missed out on the championship. With the Heat ultimately having no intention of signing Dragic back, the Nets would be a good option for him to storm the championship. Although the Nets are currently only eighth in the East, with the return of Durant and Simmons and the team's lineup, the Nets are still very strong, even if they can't achieve better qualifying, they will not have too many problems in the playoffs, and they will still be one of the favorite teams to win the championship this season.
After signing Dragic, the Nets will currently have a rich lineup thickness and a very suitable staffing in all positions, so they also have to cut Carter, who has performed very well in recent games. However, it is believed that Dragic's performance at that time will make up for the loss of Carter's departure. For the Nets, they must do their best to hit the championship this season, after all, they were unfortunately eliminated last season because of injuries.
Of course, if he wants to storm the championship, then head coach Nash must cultivate the chemistry of the newly formed lineup as soon as possible in the next time, and strive to impact a higher record before the end of the regular season, avoiding the need to enter the playoffs by playing in the playoffs. With a 2.5-game gap from the Top Six in the East, the Nets will have to work hard in the final stages of the season.