Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, it’s time for the Brooklyn Nets to be on the prowl for buyout candidates. There’s one in particular that Brooklyn has been connected to over the past couple of days and that’s Goran Dragic.
Dragic was traded from the Raptors to the Spurs on Feb. 10. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, San Antonio and Dragic are hoping to “negotiate a contract buyout in the coming week.”
The 35-year-old played in five games for Toronto this season and averaged eight points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. His last contest was on Nov. 13 against the Pistons and he finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
At the end of November, Dragic stepped away from the team as he and the Raptors agreed to find the point guard a new home. Three months later, Dragic landed with the fourth team in his 15-year career, although he won’t be there for long.
Dragic’s reportedly stayed in good shape in the time that he’s been away from the game and will be the top candidate on the buyout market. Brooklyn should keep tabs on Dragic but other teams such as the Bucks, Warriors, and Lakers are also in pursuit of the guard.
The Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, Bulls, Nets and Warriors are all expected to be in “aggressive pursuit” of Goran Dragic following an expected buyout with the Spurs, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/C1Atn5MHs1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 13, 2022
Should the Brooklyn Nets sign buyout candidate Goran Dragic?
The Nets recently added three new faces to their roster but Dragic would help to fill a need for the team, especially in games played at Barclays Center. Brooklyn will continue to be down a point guard at home unless Kyrie Irving gets vaccinated or the New York City local mandate is lifted.
In 2020-21, Dragic averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 50 games for Miami. He shot 43.2% from the field and 37.3% from the 3-point line.
Dragic was part of the Heat’s run to the 2020 NBA Finals in the bubble and he averaged 19 points in the 16 games that he started in. In Game 1 of the finals, he tore his plantar fascia and was out for the remainder of the series.
Before getting injured, he was Miami’s leading scorer.
🗣 DRACARYS!
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 22, 2020
Go back in the bubble for a behind-the-scenes look at @Goran_Dragic leading our playoff upset of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 🐲 pic.twitter.com/GrG3KSGkja
If the Nets can sign Dragic, his presence would be valued on and off the court. His playoff experience and leadership would be vital as Brooklyn’s hoping to mesh its new-look roster together before mid-April.
However, as of right now, Milwaukee is the frontrunner to sign Dragic. Pat Connaughton fractured a metacarpal in his right hand on Feb. 10 and will undergo surgery. Dragic would help to fill a need for the Bucks, who also executed a trade for Nets target Serge Ibaka before the deadline.
Dragic has to be waived first before teams can attempt to sign him to a veteran’s minimum contract for the remainder of the year. To sign Dragic, the Nets will have to free up a roster spot.
Will Brooklyn be able to ward off the defending champions? Stay tuned.
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