Goran Dragic was a DNP-CD in the Toronto Raptors' victory over the Indiana Pacers. Dragic has also been allotted less than 15 minutes of playing time in three of Toronto's first four games.

Despite the limited playing time, nothing has changed in Dragic's potential for a buyout.

Dragic is earning $19.4 million in the final season of his contract and the Raptors continue to be hopeful a trade market for him will materialize. 

Edward Rogers tried to block the new contract the Toronto Raptors offered to Masai Ujiri, expressing a belief that he was not worth the size of the deal.

Rogers is the former chairman of Rogers Communications and is a board member of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Rogers Communications owns a 37.5 percent stake of MLSE. Rival telecom BCE Inc. owns another 37.5 per cent and Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Group controls the balance.

One NBA team’s offer included a three-percent ownership stake along with a salary that eclipsed the $15 million per year deal he ultimately struck with MLSE. Rogers was the holdout after Bell and Tanenbaum agreed to the Ujiri offer. Ujiri also received interest from English Premier League teams. 

Rogers said Sunday that he has the “utmost respect for Masai Ujiri,” citing his leadership, track record in scouting and building a roster, and his global citizenship. 

“Above all, I respect the man,” Rogers said. “Masai built an NBA Champion and I have every confidence in him and his team to do so again.”

Following a July meeting, Rogers called Ujiri and told him he wasn't worth the money he was being paid. The call left Ujiri feeling so angry and disrespected that he considered taking a year off as president of the Raptors. Others in the MLSE ranks went into damage control and reassured him he'd be protected from Rogers. 

The Toronto Raptors have exercised the third-year team option on the rookie scale contracts of forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn.

Achiuwa, 6-foot-8, 244 pounds, was acquired from the Miami Heat along with Goran Dragic as part of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry. He averaged 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 61 games (four starts) as a rookie last season. For his efforts, Achiuwa was named to the World Team roster for the 2021 NBA Rising Stars. He was picked 20th overall by Miami in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Flynn, 6-foot-1, 176 pounds, was selected 29th overall by the Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft. He averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 19.7 minutes in 47 games (14 starts) during his rookie campaign. Flynn scored in double figures in 17 contests, including 20 or more on four times. He earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for April; posting averages of 12.7 points, 4.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 28.3 minutes in 15 games.

The Toronto Raptors have waived Freddie Gillespie and Reggie Perry. Toronto now has 18 players on their preseason roster, with one waiver remaining to be regular season roster compliance.

Gillespie signed with the Raptors late in the 2020-21 season. After two 10 Day contracts, Gillespie inked a two-year deal with Toronto. In 20 appearances (two starts), Gillespie averaged 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block in 19.6 minutes per game.

Gillespie had $50,000 of his 2021-22 contract guaranteed. If he's not claimed off waivers, that amount will go on Toronto's books.

Perry played his rookie season on a Two-Way contract with the Brooklyn Nets. In 26 games, Perry averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in mostly mop-up duty for the Nets. Perry's deal with Toronto was a non-guaranteed training camp contract.

Perry and Gillespie are both candidates to play for Raptors 905 of the G League as Affiliate Players.

NBA players have been informed that unvaccinated players who breach quarantine while in Toronto face a criminal offense.

Due to the ordinance in Toronto, unvaccinated players can only leave the hotel for team activities.

Violations of Canada's Quarantine Act could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. 

Chris Boucher is expected to miss the next three to four weeks after having surgery to re-align a dislocated finger on his left hand.

Boucher signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with the Raptors last November and will be an unrestricted free agent following the 21-22 season.

Boucher averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game last season.

Several teams are still talking trades with the Philadelphia 76ers for disgruntled All-Star Ben Simmons. League sources indicate that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are still inquiring about trading for Simmons.

Cleveland, Minnesota and San Antonio have been linked to Simmons since he went on the block a couple of months ago. Toronto was also rumored to be involved, but had no interest in moving All-Star forward Pascal Siakam as part of a package for Simmons. It's unknown what level of interest Detroit or Indiana have.

It was recently reported that Philadelphia has not issued Simmons a payment of $8.25 million that was due on October 1. The Sixers have reportedly placed that amount in escrow and will deduct any fines Simmons incurs from that account.