Tag: goran dragic

Bucks sign Goran Dragic

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Goran Dragić.

A 6-3 guard, Dragić has played in 939 games (530 starts) over the past 15 seasons with Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Toronto, Brooklyn and Chicago and holds career NBA averages of 13.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game. The 36-year-old began this season with the Bulls where he averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes across 51 games before being waived on Feb. 28.

Originally selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Dragić has also seen action in 60 playoff games throughout his career and was a 2018 NBA All-Star with the Heat. A native of Slovenia, Dragić was named the league’s Most Improved Player and selected to the All-NBA Third Team following the 2013-14 season with the Suns.

Dragić will wear number 31 with the Bucks. Milwaukee’s roster is now at 16 players.

Bulls sign Goran Dragic

The Chicago Bulls yesterday signed guard Goran Dragić.

A native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Dragić (6-3, 190) has appeared in 888 career games (530 starts) recording averages of 13.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 36.2 from three-point range and 76.7 from the free-throw line. Over the course of his 14-year NBA career, Dragić has made stops in Brooklyn (2021-22), Toronto (2021-22), Miami (2015-21), Houston (2011-12) and Phoenix (2008-11, 2012-15).

Dragić has also appeared in 60 playoff games (37 starts) across six postseason appearances, recording averages of 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.9 minutes while shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 76.3 percent from the free-throw line – helping lead the Heat to an NBA Finals appearance in 2020 and the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2010. During his 2017-18 season with the Heat, Dragić was named an NBA All-Star. He also earned All-NBA Third Team honors, as well as the NBA Most Improved Player Award with the Suns in the 2013-14 campaign. Dragić was originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft, and his draft rights were traded to Phoenix.

Prior to the NBA, Dragić competed professionally in Europe for four years (2004-08). He also has a decorated international career playing for Slovenia. In 2017, he led his home country to its first-ever FIBA European Championship at the 2017 EuroBasket. Dragić was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and earned Slovenia’s Sportsman of the Year award.

Dragić will wear No. 7.

Nets sign Goran Dragic, and waive Jevon Carter

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Goran Dragić.

And in a related transaction, Brooklyn has requested waivers on guard Jevon Carter.

Dragić (6’3”, 190) has appeared in 872 career games (524 starts) across 14 seasons with Phoenix (2008-11, 2012-15), Houston (2011-12), Miami (2015-21) and Toronto (2021-22), recording averages of 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line. Dragić played in five games this season with the Raptors, averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.0 minutes per game. The 35-year-old native of Slovenia was named an All-Star in the 2017-18 season with the Heat, and he secured All-NBA Third Team honors, as well as the NBA Most Improved Player Award with the Suns in the 2013-14 campaign. Dragić has also seen action in 56 playoff games (37 starts) in five postseason appearances, registering averages of 14.9 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field, 34.6 percent shooting from long distance and 76.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.4 minutes per contest while helping lead the Heat to an NBA Finals appearance in 2020 and the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2010. Dragić was originally selected with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by San Antonio, and his draft rights were traded to Phoenix. Prior to beginning his NBA career, Dragić played professionally for four years (2004-08) in Europe. Dragić has also competed on the international stage, with his final appearance coming in 2017, when he led Slovenia to its first-ever FIBA European Championship at the 2017 EuroBasket. Dragić was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and earned Slovenia’s Sportsman of the Year award.

Carter saw action in 46 games (one start) with Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 3.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.0 minutes per game. The 26-year-old was originally acquired by the Nets in a trade with the Suns on Aug. 6, 2021.

Raptors trade Goran Dragic to Spurs

The Toronto Raptors have acquired forwards Drew Eubanks and Thaddeus Young, along with a 2022 second round draft pick in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs for guard Goran Dragic and a protected 2022 first round draft pick.

Eubanks, 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, is averaging 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 49 games (nine starts) this season. He is shooting .528 (84-159) from the field and has scored in double figures six times. Eubanks scored a career-high 18 points Nov. 10 vs. Sacramento and recorded his lone double-double of the year with 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds Nov. 7 at Oklahoma City.

A native of Troutdale, Oregon, Eubanks owns career averages of 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 11.7 minutes in 148 games (15 starts) all with the Spurs. He signed with San Antonio as an undrafted free agent in 2018 following three seasons at Oregon State (2015-18), where he was an All-Pac-12 Honourable Mention as a sophomore.

Young, 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, is posting averages of 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 14.2 minutes in 26 contests this season. He is shooting .578 (74-128) from the floor and has scored in double digits on eight occasions, including a season-high 17 points twice.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Young is in his 15th NBA season after being picked 12th overall by Philadelphia in the 2007 NBA Draft. Young holds career averages of 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 29.6 minutes in 1,059 games (711 starts) with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Indiana, Chicago, and San Antonio. He has also reached the postseason eight times, averaging 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 29.2 minutes in 51 career playoff contests (17 starts). Prior to being drafted by the Sixers, Young played one season at Georgia Tech (2006-07).

Dragic is averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 17.9 minutes in five games with the Raptors this season. He has been away from the team handling a personal matter for the last 33 games (Nov. 28 – Feb. 9). Dragic was acquired from Miami this past summer along with Precious Achiuwa as part of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry.

On Goran Dragic no longer being a member of the Miami Heat

For the first time in a long time, the Miami Heat will be taking the court without guard Goran Dragic on the roster. Via the Miami Herald:

“At the end of the day, this is a bottom line business. It’s about winning,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in advance of Monday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena. “But you really also want to be able to develop meaningful lasting relationships. That’s the part that you treasure the most. That’s the most gratifying in this profession for all of us, when you have these shared experiences that build incredible memories.

“That’s what I have with Goran. I think back to obviously the really competitive experiences we had in the playoffs. But equally as important and equally as gratifying to me are the trips over to Slovenia and visiting him and his family, and seeing where he was from, how he is and how people respond to him in his country. It was really cool.”

The Heat traded Dragic and center Precious Achiuwa to the Toronto Raptors to acquire six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry this past summer. Dragic, 35, publicly expressed his desire to be moved to another team shortly after the deal was made, but Toronto has yet to fulfill his request and the affable Dragic is preparing to begin the season with the Raptors.

Toronto Raptors sign-and-trade Kyle Lowry to Miami Heat

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have acquired guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa from the Miami Heat as part of a sign-and-trade for six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry.

“Kyle Lowry is a great leader and an exceptional defender,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “As a point guard, he will bring important skills to run the offense, score the ball and defend with the very best.”

Lowry is Toronto’s all-time leader in assists (4,277), steals (873), three-pointers made (1,518) and triple-doubles (16). He is one of two players (along with DeMar DeRozan) to represent the Raptors in nine different seasons, accumulating 365 regular season wins and 44 playoff victories to make him the winningest player in franchise history. Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 34.6 minutes, while shooting .425 from the field (3,376-7,944) and .377 from three-point range (1,518-4,031) in 601 regular season contests.

Lowry was acquired July 11, 2012 from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Gary Forbes and a first-round draft pick. During his second season (2013-14) Lowry played a key role in leading the Raptors to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. This sparked a streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances (2014-20), six Atlantic Division titles, five 50-win seasons, two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Raptors’ first NBA championship title in 2019. In the series-clinching victory June 13, 2019 at Golden State, Lowry scored Toronto’s first 11 points of the game and finished with a team-high 26 points.

Lowry had a personal streak of six consecutive NBA All-Star selections (2015-20) during this period, including being voted in as a starter twice (2015 and 2016). He earned third team All-NBA honours during the 2015-16 campaign after averaging 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and leading Toronto to a then franchise-record 56 wins.

Dragic, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds is a 13-year NBA veteran who holds career averages of 13.9 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 67 regular-season games with Phoenix, Houston and Miami. He averaged a career-best 20.3 points and 5.9 assists during the 2013-14 season with Phoenix and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Dragic also earned third-team All-NBA honors for the 2013-14 campaign. In 2016-17 with Miami he averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists and was named to the 2018 Eastern Conference All-Star Team.

Achiuwa, 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, was picked 20th overall by Miami in the 2020 NBA Draft. He averaged 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 61 games (four starts) during his rookie season. Achiuwa scored a season-high 23 points in the regular-season finale May 16 at Detroit and recorded three double-doubles.

A native of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Achiuwa played one season at the University of Memphis, where he averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds (led AAC) and 30.4 minutes in 31 contests. For his efforts, he was named American Athletic Conference Player and Freshman (AAC) of the Year.

Miami Heat exercise contract option on Goran Dragic

The Miami Heat have exercised their team option on Goran Dragic.

Per the Miami Herald, “just a few hours before the deadline, the Heat ultimately decided to exercise the $19.4 million team option in Goran Dragic’s contract and declined the $15 million team option in forward Andre Iguodala’s contract. The Heat was already considered one of the favorites to land Kyle Lowry in free agency before Sunday’s news, but the decision to exercise Dragic’s option solidifies Miami’s spot as the frontrunner to add the veteran guard, according to league sources. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Monday at 6 p.m. and officially begin signing free agents on Friday at 12:01 p.m.”

Dragić appeared in 50 games (11 starts) last season with the HEAT and averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 26.7 minutes while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from three-point range and a new career high 82.8 percent from the foul line. The 13-year NBA veteran has appeared in 867 career regular season games (522 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 28.0 minutes while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range and 76.6 percent from the foul line.

After 47-point loss to Bucks, Heat bounce back with win

The Miami Heat got destroyed by the Milwaukee Bucks a few days ago, but quickly got a chance at revenge and were able to capitalize. Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

Back in the same building against the same opponent one night after losing by 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat this time limited their largest deficit to 14 — instead of the 51 a night earlier — and then drew a line on the AmericanAirlines Arena hardwood.

So from Tuesday night’s 144-97 torment, the Heat made a quick turnaround to Wednesday night’s 119-108 resounding resurgence…

A night after the Bucks shot a record-setting 29 of 51 on 3-pointers, there was a more mundane 16 of 41 from Milwaukee.

Without Jimmy Butler for a second consecutive night, as the All-Star forward deals with a balky right ankle, Spoelstra shuffled his starting lineup and rotation and dealt a winning hand to leave his team with a 2-2 start to the season.

The Heat often do things differently. In this case, their leading scorer was a reserve: Goran Dragic, with 26 points. Their leading rebounder was a guard: Tyler Herro, with 15 rebounds. And their assists leader was their center: Bam Adebayo, with 10 assists.

Heat re-sign Goran Dragic

The Miami Heat have re-signed veteran guard Goran Dragić.

“It was essential for us to bring Goran back,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is part of our team, part of our culture and part of our family. He provides backcourt veteran leadership and can still play at a very high level. I’m glad to have him back in the fold.”

Per the Miami Herald, “according to a league source, the Heat signed Dragic to a two-year, $37.5 million deal that includes an $18 million salary this upcoming season and a $19.5 million team option for 2021-22. Under the structure of Dragic’s new contract, he’s not allowed to be traded without his approval this upcoming season.”

Dragić appeared in 59 games (three starts) last season with the HEAT and averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 28.2 minutes while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the foul line. He finished second on the team in scoring average and third in assists, three-point field goals made, free throws made and charges taken. He averaged 16.3 points and 5.1 assists off the bench, becoming just one of two players to post at least those averages in at least 55 games as a reserve last season. He dished out a team-tying record 13 assists off the bench on January 5 vs. Portland while scoring 29 points to become the oldest player to record those totals as a reserve since the NBA began tracking starters/reserves in 1970. Additionally, Dragić scored in double-figures in 24-straight games off the bench from January 15 – March 8, the longest streak by a reserve in HEAT franchise history.

In the postseason during Miami’s run to the NBA Finals, Dragić appeared in 17 games (16 starts) and averaged 19.1 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 32.5 minutes while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 80.3 percent from the foul line. He led the team in scoring average (22.8) in their first round sweep of the Pacers and paired with Jimmy Butler to score 67 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Milwaukee, tying the third-most by any duo in HEAT playoff history. Dragić capped the postseason recording 17 20-point postseason games as a member of the HEAT, tying Chris Bosh for the fourth-most in team history.

The 12-year NBA veteran has appeared in 817 career games (511 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 28.0 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 76.4 percent from the foul line. He ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals made (5th), assists (6th), scoring average (7th), points (10th), field goals made (10th), double-figure scoring games (10th), free throws made (11th), steals (12th), free throw percentage (13th), minutes (13th), field goal percentage (14th), starts (14th), games played (15th), defensive rebounds (18th), total rebounds (19th), double-doubles (21st) and three-point field goal percentage (26th).