RAPTORS BLOG: On Dragic, Boucher and next steps

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Coming home for seven games was supposed to be the start of a turnaround for the struggling Raptors.

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And maybe it still will be, but it got off to a tough start Sunday with the news that popular teammate Goran Dragic was leaving, by mutual agreement, with a loss against Boston and an update that scoring leader OG Anunoby could be out long-term following.

Not great.

Add in struggling big man Chris Boucher being benched entirely and the first snowfall of the season and it was far from a happy Sunday.

Won’t be too much on the game itself here this time around, though Jayson Tatum’s offensive struggles continue to astound me. He’s way too good to be playing this poorly and to be taking the types of shots he’s attempting. Credit the Raptors too for his 2-for-16 night, but this has been a season-long issue.

Boston really shouldn’t win a game when it’s alpha shoots that poorly, but 29-for-31 free throw shooting and only 16 total attempts for the opponent go a long way.

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So, Dragic … We said from the start a buyout or trade would happen at some point. Dragic was never destined to last the season as a Raptor. On Dec. 14 all the players signed in the off-season become eligible to be dealt, opening up more possibilities to find Dragic a new home. Since Dragic makes $19.4 million, the more available contracts the better because matching that high a salary isn’t easy. Dallas, for example, Dragic’s preferred destination, will be able to peddle shooter Reggie Bullock and giant Boban Marjanovic in just two short weeks.

Toronto will prioritize remaining under the luxury tax though with any deals.

And if nothing can be found, it’s possible Dragic continues to bide his time until the February trade deadline. If there still wasn’t anything doing on the market by then he’d surely just be bought out.

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In the case of Boucher, the path is less clear. The Raptors like him and he’s a franchise success story, having won G League MVP and defensive player of the year awards and then turned in a fine season last year, but this time around has been different. Boucher’s struggled in most of his outings, making misreads and missing the shots that were falling a season ago.

He’s a free agent after the season and turns 29 in January. If a contender comes sniffing near the deadline for some bench help the Raptors would have to listen. The Raptors are invested in Precious Achiuwa, paid Khem Birch through 2023-24 and still have Pascal Siakam, Anunoby and Barnes around to guard big men.

“He’s got to handle it like a pro,” Nick Nurse said of sitting Boucher and looking at other players like Isaac Bonga.

“When he gets his chance he has to be a little more consistent. I mean he’s not the only one that needs to come off the bench and play more consistently. That doesn’t mean scoring or anything. That’s just engaged and playing hard and rebounding and blocking shots and things he should be able to bring most nights.”

Toronto’s bench has been a major weakness so far.

THREE STARS

1 Fred VanVleet

2 Marcus Smart

3 Al Horford