Goran Dragic was a key piece of the Miami Heat’s run to the NBA Finals in the Bubble in 2020, but after tearing his plantar fascia in Game 1 of the Finals, he hasn’t quite regained that same level.
Dragic averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on 37.7/25.4/81.8 shooting splits with the Raptors and Nets in 21 games last season, but did show some positive signs late in his tenure with Brooklyn. He is currently playing for Slovenia in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers alongside Mavs star Luka Doncic, and their close relationship has long brought the expectation that Dallas would bring Dragic in for point guard depth.
However, after not dealing for Dragic at the deadline last year, the Mavs have once again chosen not to bring in the veteran guard, as word broke on Sunday, shortly after Dragic scored 20 in Slovenia’s win over Sweden, that he was headed to Chicago on a one-year deal as they continue to bolster their roster with pieces of the mid-level.
Breaking: PG Goran Dragic is signing a one-year deal with the #Bulls, per source.
The Dragon, a 2018 All-Star, will help bolster an already strong Chicago backcourt.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 3, 2022
Dragic is signing a one-year, $2.9M deal with the Bulls, sources said. https://t.co/f6VK9np1cf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2022
It makes sense for the Bulls to bring Dragic in, as last year they struggled when Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso spent time sidelined with injuries. While Dragic won’t supplant those two on the defensive side of the ball, he can provide some much needed ball-handling and scoring ability going downhill when healthy.
Source: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/goran-dragic-signs-chicago-bulls-free-agency/