The Milwaukee Bucks have officially signed Goran Dragic to a deal for the rest of the season after it was speculated for the past few days that they would.
Dragic was recently waived by the Chicago Bulls, which allowed him to pursue other opportunities. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Dragic spoke with a few contenders before landing in Milwaukee, as the Bucks were the destination he saw the most fitting. Dragic will now join the Bucks for their stretch run as they look to make a run at another title. With all of that said, here is a grade for the Bucks’ signing of Dragic based on several key factors.
Grading the Milwaukee Bucks’ signing of Goran Dragic – The financial aspect
As is the procedure with all buyout signings, Dragic’s deal was not expected to cost the Bucks an arm and a leg. According to Spotrac, that is indeed the case, as Dragic’s deal to finish the season in Milwaukee is worth $617,911. For a team with limited financial flexibility, these buyout pieces tend to be great low-cost additions for the Bucks, and that remains the case here. Dragic might have been arguably the best player on the current buyout market, so picking him up on a cheap deal like this one is a great move by the Bucks.
Now, while Dragic’s deal itself is team-friendly, it is bound to increase the team’s already hefty luxury tax bill. That shows exactly how the Bucks feel about the veteran, as they have had their eye on him for over a year now. Depending on what they decide to do with Meyers Leonard, who is on the second of two 10-day contracts, it could increase even more. That shows how much the front office is willing to spend to put this team in the best position possible to compete.
On the surface, this is a solid deal, especially considering what Dragic could bring to the table.