MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat greets Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks after the game at American Airlines Arena on February 28, 2020 in Miami, Florida, 5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Now that the NBA trade deadline has come and gone, everyone is going to be focused on one thing and one thing only – the buyout market. And there’s one player on most teams’ minds – Goran Dragic.
After being dealt to the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade this summer, Dragic only played five games with the Raptors. He was then traded at the deadline to the San Antonio Spurs, who swiftly bought him out.
Dragic has quickly become the most sought-after buyout candidate around the league. He may not have played well in Toronto, but teams around the league understand his value.
With that in mind, what five teams should monitor Dragic’s status and try to sign him to a contract? Here are the top candidates to sign the veteran guard for the rest of the season.
5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Dallas Mavericks
Ever since it was rumored that Goran Dragic could hit the buyout market, the Dallas Mavericks were considered one of the favorites to sign the guard, and it’s not hard to see why.
The 35-year-old Slovenian shares the same nationality as Luka Doncic. The obvious connection has led most people to believe the Mavs will make a strong push to sign Dragic.
That being said, the Mavs’ need for a point guard has gone down in recent days. They acquired Spencer Dinwiddie at the trade deadline, so they might look to beef up their rotation in other areas.
Regardless, it’s highly likely that the Mavericks are in the running for Dragic, at the very least due to his connection with Doncic. It would definitely be a fun pairing, to say the least.
NBA trade deadline</a> has come and gone, everyone is going to be focused on one thing and one thing only – the buyout market. And there’s one player on most teams’ minds – Goran Dragic.</p>
<p>After being dealt to the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade this summer, Dragic only played five games with the Raptors. He was then traded at the deadline to the San Antonio Spurs, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/goran-dragic-buyout-market/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33276938/san-antonio-spurs-expected-buy-veteran-goran-dragic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who swiftly bought him out</a>.</p>
<p>Dragic has quickly become the most sought-after buyout candidate around the league. He may not have played well in Toronto, but teams around the league understand his value.</p>
<p>With that in mind, what five teams should monitor Dragic’s status and try to sign him to a contract? Here are the top candidates to sign the veteran guard for the rest of the season.</p>
<h2>5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Dallas Mavericks</h2>
<p>Ever since it was rumored that Goran Dragic could hit the buyout market, the Dallas Mavericks were considered one of the favorites to sign the guard, and it’s not hard to see why.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old Slovenian shares the same nationality as Luka Doncic. The obvious connection has led most people to believe the Mavs will make a strong push to sign Dragic.</p>
<p>That being said, the Mavs’ need for a point guard has gone down in recent days. They acquired Spencer Dinwiddie at the trade deadline, so they might look to beef up their rotation in other areas.</p>
<p>Regardless, it’s highly likely that the Mavericks are in the running for Dragic, at the very least due to his connection with Doncic. It would definitely be a fun pairing, to say the least.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/goran-dragic-buyout-market/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 and #3 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Miami Heat</h2>
<p>This one is just too obvious. Before he was sent to Toronto this past offseason, most people assumed that Goran Dragic would stay with the Miami Heat for the rest of his career.</p>
<p>Now, just mere months later, he has the chance to return to South Beach. He has even been seen working out with some current Heat players as of late.</p>
<p>The fact that Dragic even made an appearance at a Heat game recently should speak volumes. There’s always a chance that a return to Miami could be at the forefront of his mind.</p>
<p>However, with Gabe Vincent playing the backup point guard role so well, they might choose to leave it be. You never know, though. Anything can happen.</p>
<h2>5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Los Angeles Lakers</h2>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers should be considered a top destination for every single buyout candidate on the market right now. That’s how poorly they have performed thus far.</p>
<p>Russell Westbrook has been bad, Anthony Davis can’t shoot anymore, and the Lakers’ defense looks absolutely horrendous. Any small semblance of help would do wonders for them.</p>
<p>They were rumored to be looking at bringing back Dennis Schroder to be a backup point guard at the deadline, so adding Goran Dragic would make just as much sense.</p>
<p>His dynamic scoring could give them a huge boost off the bench, but sadly enough, the real question is whether or not Dragic would have any interest in joining them.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/goran-dragic-buyout-market/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 and #5 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-442018" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/goran-dragic-buyout-market/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1321153924.jpeg" alt="5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1321153924.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1321153924-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 27: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at American Airlines Arena on May 27, 2021 in Miami, Florida, 5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Milwaukee Bucks</h2>
<p>The Milwaukee Bucks were another team that was rumored to be chasing Dennis Schroder at the deadline. But since that obviously didn’t work out, Goran Dragic could come in and play that role.</p>
<p>Milwaukee is dealing with a ton of injuries right now. On top of the already injured Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton just recently went down with a long-term issue, too.</p>
<p>With George Hill handling the majority of the backup point guard minutes, the Bucks could use another guy in their backcourt who would give them an extra scoring punch.</p>
<p>That being said, they did just sign DeAndre’ Bembry in the buyout market. But with the injuries they’ve dealt with, they could always double dip.</p>
<h2>5 perfect landing spots for Goran Dragic in the buyout market: Denver Nuggets</h2>
<p>This might just be the ultimate sleeper team for Goran Dragic to end up on. With how many injuries the Denver Nuggets have dealt with, they could always use some extra depth.</p>
<p>So far this season, Denver’s offense has been Nikola Jokic… and that’s it. By adding Dragic, they would have another source of offense off the bench.</p>
<p>And that’s the other key selling point here – Denver’s bench has been awful this year. They just don’t have the depth, especially with all of the injuries on the roster.</p>
<p>Dragic may not be the perfect fit, and the Nuggets could choose to target a wing instead, but in terms of talent and scoring, this match could work out.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Grading all 30 teams on their trade-deadline deals" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/12/nba-trade-deadline-grades/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/16/goran-dragic-buyout-market/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/12/nba-trade-deadline-grades/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Grading all 30 teams on their trade-deadline deals </a> </div>
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