This Pelicans-Raptors Trade Involves Goran Dragic To New Orleans

Goran Dragic
NBA Analysis Network

Winning their first championship in 2019 seems like so long ago for the Toronto Raptors, especially after they missed the playoffs entirely last season. Due to injuries and players in and out of NBA health protocols, the Raptors finished with a 27-45 record last year, their worst record since the 2011-12 season when they went 23-43. 

Kyle Lowry is now in Miami after deciding to leave Toronto this offseason and Pascal Siakam is currently still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, yet the Raptors have begun the 2021-22 season better than many would have imagined. 

The emergence of rookie forward Scottie Barnes has been enormous for this team, OG Anunoby is making his case for Most Improved Player in the league, and Fred VanVleet is still a high-level combo-guard for the Raptors. 

Head coach Nick Nurse has done another fantastic job preparing this team for the start of the season after many have been counting them out, which is why this Raptors team is dangerous. 

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It is going to be very interesting to see how things come together for Toronto when Siakam returns, but it is also going to be interesting to see what kind of deals they look to make. 

Executive Masai Ujiri is always looking to switch things up roster-wise for the Toronto Raptors and with Goran Dragic and Chris Boucher both being on expiring contracts, he could look to leverage them for more long-term value. 

Dragic was acquired by Toronto as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Kyle Lowry to Miami and Boucher emerged as a key bench talent for them in their frontcourt last season. 

Where the Raptors are at in the standings around the trade deadline will play a huge factor into who they look to trade away/trade for, but nonetheless, Goran Dragic still remains a key trade asset on their roster. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Raptors-Sixers Trade Is Headlined By Ben Simmons

There are definitely a handful of teams who could utilize the veteran guard in their backcourt, but the New Orleans Pelicans are a team to keep an eye on in the Western Conference. Without Zion Williamson to begin the year and Brandon Ingram dealing with some injuries, they have underperformed based on the preseason expectations placed on them. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are a team who could be looking to make some moves to help them win games right now, especially since they believe they can make the playoffs this year, which is why they may not only have interest in Dragic to improve their backcourt, but Boucher as well to add some depth behind Ingram and Williamson at the forward positions. 

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