The Toronto Raptors are trading Goran Dragic to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a deal that includes Thaddeus Young, the team officially announced Thursday shortly after the NBA's trade deadline.
The Spurs are expected to buy out Dragic from the remainder of his contract, after which he will likely be signing with the Dallas Mavericks, according to Sportsnet's Michael Grange.
In addition to Dragic, the Raptors are sending a 2022 protected first-round pick to the Spurs. The pick will be protected 1-14 in 2022 and 1-13 in 2023, after which it will turn into two future second-round picks.
The Raptors also received Drew Eubanks, though general manager Bobby Wester announced that he will be waived, and a 2022 second-round pick, which formerly belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
In Young, the Raptors acquire a veteran forward whose boxscore stats have been unremarkable this season in limited appearances — averaging 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just over 14 minutes per game across 26 appearances — but who is widely regarded as an impactful presence in the locker room.
With an expanded role on the Chicago Bulls last season, Young's counting stats were nearly twice as high, averaging 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 24.3 minutes per game.
Still, the six-foot-eight forward is an upgrade on paper over incumbent backups Yuta Watanabe and Svi Mykhailiuk, whose place and impact in the rotation has been inconsistent — especially in recent weeks, with the Raptors shortening their bench to just eight players most nights.
Young, 33, is a pending free agent on a $14-million deal. Though it is not yet known if the Raptors intend to pursue re-signing him at season's end, their willingness to give up a protected first-rounder in exchange for the vet suggests an interest in his services beyond the stretch run.
Should the Raptors opt not to re-sign Young, the trade ensured the team will preserve its cap space after this season, a priority for the team's architects, Bobby Webster and Masai Ujiri.
Getting a serviceable player in exchange for Dragic's contract was among Webster and Ujiri's top priorities at the deadline. Dragic, who was acquired as part of the sign-and-trade that sent Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat last summer, had left the Raptors to deal with a family over three months ago and did not return.
Beyond Young, the pick the Raptors acquired figures to be near the top of the second round, given the Pistons' current place at the bottom of the league's standings.
