Trade deadline targets the Chicago Bulls were smart to avoid: Goran Dragic
There is a common theme here among a couple of the guards on this list that they could land on the buyout market before too long. That is the case especially with the former Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat veteran point guard Goran Dragic. After not seeing a whole lot of action with the Raptors through the first half of this season, Toronto shipped Dragic off to San Antonio at the deadline.
Landing with the Spurs seems like it almost officially ensures that Dragic will land on the buyout market in due time. The Spurs don’t have much motivation to keep a large contract on the books like Dragic’s down the stretch this season as they don’t have a great shot at the postseason.
The exchange between the Spurs and Raptors that saw Dragic land in San Antonio wound up being pretty interesting, though. The Spurs shipped off veteran forward Thaddeus Young, big man Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 second-round draft pick to the Raptors for a return of Dragic and a 2022 first-round draft pick.
This trade looks like it worked out well for both parties. But Dragic is still likely going to be able to help provide backcourt depth to a postseason contender down the stretch this season. The Bulls could be that team.
A few other potential landing spots for Dragic if and when the Spurs buy him out are the Dallas Mavericks, Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers, among a few other teams. The Bulls should definitely be involved in that mix depending on what other point guard options appear on the buyout market this season.