The Spurs are expected to begin negotiations on a buyout agreement with newly-acquired guard Goran Dragic this week, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Lakers and Warriors will be among the teams pursuing Dragic in free agency, sources tell Wojnarowski, along with the Clippers, Bucks, Bulls and Nets. Dallas was previously viewed as a frontrunner to sign the point guard, but the acquisition of Spencer Dinwiddie seemingly took the Mavericks out of the mix.
Dragic appears to be the top name on this year’s buyout market, and teams are confident that he remained in top shape during his long absence, Woj adds. After being dealt to the Raptors last offseason, Dragic played just five games before he and the team reached a mutual agreement that allowed him to work out on his own until he could be traded again.
San Antonio acquired Dragic, along with a 2022 second-round draft pick, shortly before Thursday’s trade deadline, sending Thaddeus Young and Drew Eubanks to Toronto in return.
Dragic, 35, is attractive to contenders because of his long history of success in the playoffs. He helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2020 before being sidelined by plantar fasciitis.
Dragic currently has $6.1MM left to be paid on his $19.4MM contract, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN, although because the number is prorated it will decline each day. Whatever money Dragic gives up in San Antonio, he will presumably be able to replace when he signs with his new team.
Lakers need a lot more then Dragic
Yeah I don’t see him going there tbh, despite the obvious need for LA
Why would he go to the lakers. To play in a meaningless play-in game just to make the playoffs. The lakers are garbage
The league and officials will make sure the Lakers are in the playoffs
It’s one reason 20 out of 30 teams make the playoffs this year. They also wanted the Knicks in for the TV viewers in the NYC market come playoff time.
Sorry, but the NBA is a joke as a professional league.
From the players to the FO’s to the owner’s to the TV people – everyone vants dar maaaaknee!
I tried to sign up for NBA.TV a while back. What a rip off! All national games are blacked out. Local team replays cannot be seen for 3 days. The worst coding of screens I’ve seen in ages. Complete mickey mouse operation. Been with MLB.TV for 10 years. Can view 95%-plus of out of market games. Local games can be seen 2 hours after the game is over. MLB plays 2 times as many gams as the NBA. Price is about the same.
bugs bunny over at warner bros is offended.
Luke207, you took the words right out of my mouth! El Lakers are the most babied team in professional sports history. Whatever they want they get handed to them on a silver platter. Except for the one time David Stern rightfully put his foot down on the Chris Paul trade and said enough is enough. I’m sick and tired of seeing the Lakers linked to every big name in the league.
Laker for sure
Why would he want to sign with the Lakers instead of one of the real contenders? Like the draw of LeBron isnt what it was now that the prospect is trying to get out of the play in game. Signing with the GSW/Heat/Bucks/Suns/Griz/Bulls all seem more appealing than the Lakers.
26-30 teams sitting in 9th place in the standings dont have the juice to get top buyout candidates.
Lakers and Clippers might make him an instant starter, definitely the largest roles on 1 of those teams
And no shot at a ring
Dragic would lose $5 million?
Who wants to spend $5 milllion AND plus luxury tax?
Lakers or Bulls?
Why would he have to give back 5 of 6M for a buyout? The spurs will save like 1M on his deal which is maybe a tiny bit more than most teams can offer on a pro rated min deal when he resigns, or teams with MLE or other contracts still open can offer more.
Just say you don’t understand how the buyout market works bud. It’d be easier that way.
I don’t understand why the Bulls, Lakers, Warriors and the Nets are interested they don’t need Goran Dragic. Bucks, Clippers, and 76ers make senses. I am surprised the Heat aren’t interested in a reunion.
Bulls have a bajillion injuries. Need someone for the next month or two
Yeah
Drop Chiozza and pick up Dragic.
Chiozza is on a two-way Dragic isn’t eligible for a two-way.
Dragic cant sign a 2-way so thats dumb.
Im saying he’s going to Miami.
Bingo
Milwaukee would unfortunately make a lot of sense for him, and hopefully he doesnt sign there. Heat only have a roster spot for him now if they replace Morris with someone with their other spot. They’ll have that spot for him in the offseason though. Right now, they’re using kyle guy kind of in that floor spacing guard role as a 2 way guy, but those guys cant play in the playoffs anyway, so it’s not like they can just replace him with Goran, which they obviously would
Why are you getting so many things wrong lately? The heat opened a roster spot when they sent KZ to OKC… they have 2 open roster spots right now in fact.. one for Caleb Martin, and another for whoever they want on the buyout market…. including dragic if they want him.
Ya 1 is for Caleb Martin, the other is for a 4 with size that can defend/shoot, or a floor spacing 5. Only have a spot for Dragic by getting rid of Morris, and without KZ, they now need that 4 even more
So you filled an open roster spot mythologically in your head, and gone so far as to say the heat can’t use it? lol
B/c that’s what they need b/c they traded KZ and still have Morris, who might or might not play, but is bad regardless except for certain circumstances
We all knew there was a reason Haslem was sticking around LOL there’s your big man rim protector.
This guy is a worthless cry baby. Wahh I’m too good for Toronto, I’m gonna stay home and complain but still pay me all my money. Hate this guy so much
He hasn’t “stayed home”.. he’s been training in the Heat’s facility since he went on leave from the Raptors. If he was being a ‘crybaby’ he would be in Sebia right now.. not Miami
Don’t be so dense jeremyn, dude is Slovenian not Serbian, show some respect, SMH!
The Raptors didn’t want him, they just hoped to flip him for 2nd. They benched so they’d have minutes for Banton and Flynn. Toronto is the one who took him out of the rotation.
Do the writers of this site not know he can sign with the Heat now or something? The guy never wanted to play for another team, he’s been training in their facility since he went on leave.. and now that he could return to a title contender and more or less have a similar role he had the last 2 years… he won’t? lol… come on
He can’t go back to Miami until the off-season. Only exception is if no other team claims him.
Nope. Once he is traded again he can now return to the Heat, but couldnt resign with TOR after a buyout. The penalty changes teams after a subsequent trade.
Once he was traded it became the Raptors who couldn’t sign him.. not the Heat… I would have to double check on your waiver claim theory… but even so.. no one’s claiming his 20 mill salary brother lol
He can come back, but in terms of what the Heat need is, they have a bigger need right now at the 4
The “need” will be filled with Markiff Morris… and Omer will probably see minutes down the stretch with Bam playing the 4 as well. You’re ideas are antiquated
Morris is useful as a small ball 5 in certain matchups, but the Heat need someone at the 4 who hasnt been really bad when he plays and can do more than just rebound sometimes
We’re aware of the rules. The mentioned in this story as the ones with interest were reported by Woj — the Heat weren’t on that list, which I agree is surprising (and I certainly wouldn’t rule them out).
Heat surely otherwise Lakers or Nuggets make sense
Might team up with his good buddy, Luka.
If not that heat that would have made the most logical sense.. until the Mavs said they weren’t interested “our roster is set” as the GM said
Like everyone, before the deadline, I thought that he was for sure going to be a Mav. Now, I’m not so sure. Heat would be awesome, even though they’re not being talked about much. Warriors would be a good fit if anyone was bad on their team lol. He should’ve played this year for the Raps and not thrown a fit, they could still use him. Bucks make sense. The Lakers sound like they’re gonna sign Schroder instead, but they could definitely use him, even though they’re not real contenders this year. Clips are even less real contenders, and the Bulls and Nets don’t need him.
Oh I didn’t realize the Heat had an open spot and wanted him back so yeah, he’ll just return there and slide right back in. Done deal, no need to mention it anymore. Next
This must be the worst buy out market like ever if Dragic is the top name, right?
Now that 10 teams have a shot instead of 8 in each conference, the buyout market will dry up a bit this year and beyond.
Great move by the Spurs, get rid of a guy who wasn’t playing for a 1st.
The buyout market hasn’t started yet ????
Probably should wait for it before hating on it.