Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said that the team would be looking to the buyout market after failing to make a deal at the trade deadline this year. Now it may be time for him to make good on his word.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that the San Antonio Spurs are expected to negotiate a contract buyout with the newly-acquired Goran Dragic. Wojnarowski adds that the list of teams expected to pursue Dragic now includes the Lakers. Teams such as the Golden State Warriors, the LA Clippers, the Chicago Bulls, and the Brooklyn Nets are on that list as well.
The 35-year-old Dragic was just acquired by the Spurs in a trade that sent Thaddeus Young and Drew Eubanks to the Toronto Raptors. Dragic had made only five appearances for Toronto this season before taking an indefinite leave of absence.
In his last full season with the Miami Heat in 2020-21, Dragic averaged 18.1 points and 5.9 assists per game. That is a skillset that the Lakers would love to have, especially since their point guard depth chart is a wasteland due to the struggles of Russell Westbrook and the continued absence of Kendrick Nunn. But they will have to beat out all of those aforementioned teams as well as this top contender that was previously linked to Dragic.
Photo: Sep 27, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka answers a question during the Lakers media day at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
