| August 9, 2021, 6:54 PM
The Toronto Raptors acquired Goran Dragic from the Miami Heat as part of a sign-and-trade involving Kyle Lowry, however the guard reportedly made comments Monday suggesting Toronto is not his preferred destination.
Dragic reportedly told a Slovenian media outlet he had “higher ambitions” than joining a Raptors team currently undergoing significant off-season changes.
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster was asked about Dragic and his potential future with the team Monday afternoon during an appearance on Sportsnet 590.
“I’d rather get it directly from him to just understand exactly what he meant by that (but) we feel like we’re going to be competitive,” said Webster, who added he didn’t view Dragic’s translated comments as controversial. “We have a core that has been around for a while and has won at the highest level as well, so I think let’s give it some time here to see how he would fit in and if he likes it here or not. He’s a pro and has been around a lot and he’s obviously entitled to want to make the most of his (remaining playing) years.”
The Raptors were hoping the 35-year-old Dragic could help replace some of that veteran leadership Lowry is bringing to the Heat.
“In following him for his career he’s a leader on the Slovenian national team, we’ve watched him carry those teams and we’ve watched him in the NBA at different levels,” Webster said of Dragic. “He’s not necessarily, at least from our understanding, a rah-rah guy, but he provides a calm, steady leadership, really good presence in the locker room, and obviously he can still play.”
Dragic, who averaged 13.4 points 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game this past season, had spent the past six years in Miami following a trade from the Phoenix Suns in 2015. He is set to make $19.44 million for the 2021-22 season.
