Kawhi Leonard came to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the 2018-19 NBA season and helped deliver them their first championship in franchise history, but since then, this Raptors team has not seen much overall success.
The Raptors went 53-19 during the 2019-20 season, immediately following Kawhi’s departure, and they lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals that year. Then last season, they missed the playoffs entirely, finishing with a 27-45 record.
Everything seems to be trending downwards for the Raptors, especially since they will be without veteran point guard and leader Kyle Lowry for the first time since the 2011-12 season. With Lowry now in Miami and Pascal Siakam out to begin the season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, there is definitely a lot to be worried about if you are a Raptors fan.
This team does not look like they are in any shape to be contending for a championship anymore, which is why a short rebuilding process could happen this season. Masai Ujiri is one of the better league executives and he knows what it takes to build a great team, which is why Toronto could look to leverage veteran guard Goran Dragic before the trade deadline this year.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Packages Involving Goran Dragic For Raptors To Consider
Dragic came to Toronto from Miami as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Kyle Lowry to the Heat, but the Raptors may not really have a need for Goran Dragic this season. He is in the final year of his contract and with both Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn in their backcourt, the Raptors could opt to play their young players over a guy like Dragic who they are not going to keep past this season.
The former All-Star point guard was an essential piece in Miami and helped them reach the 2020 NBA Finals in the NBA Bubble, so there will definitely be interest in him around the league should the Raptors make him available in trade talks. One of the teams who could and will express interest in the veteran guard is the Dallas Mavericks.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Trade Packages Involving Goran Dragic For Raptors To Consider
Luka Doncic and Goran Dragic are good friends with one another and Dallas could definitely look to bring in another primary ball-handler/scorer to help Luka out, so what could this trade wind up looking like?
Additionally, Dragic has now been a DNP-CD for the last three Raptors games. There isn’t much point in keeping a veteran on an expiring contract if he’s not going to even play despite being healthy and fully available to do so.
Let’s take a look at a three-team trade that not only involves the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks but the Oklahoma City Thunder as well.
