After suffering a sweep to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors have a lot of questions to answer this free agency.
Of all the lessons learned from the Raptors’ playoff exit, there’s no denying that the Raps need to improve their three-point shooting this off-season.
In the second-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against LeBron James and Co., the Raptors were garbage from distance. They shot 30 per cent from beyond the 3-point line— the lowest of any team still in the playoffs— and convered just 27.3 per cent (12 of 44) of their three-pointers when they were left wide open.
With teams like the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets all finding success shooting lights out from deep, the Raptors need to follow suit if they want to take the next step in a generation molded by analytics.
Knowing that Toronto isn’t exactly the most popular free agent destination, it might not be realistic to think the NBA’s most prestige sharpshooters, like J.J. Redick and Kyle Korver will choose to sign with the Raptors this summer. With that in mind, here are seven free agents who could help the Raptors fix their three-point shooting woes:
C.J. MILES
The 6-foot-6 small forward has a player option for next season that would pay him $4.7 million, but he’d be smart to opt out after shooting 41.3 per cent—a career-high— from beyond the arc during the 2016-17 campaign.
If Miles were to sign with the Raptors, he’d be able to serve as a solid spark plug off the bench, having made at least three three-pointers on 27 different occasions throughout his most recent season with the Indiana Pacers.
He also recorded at least 20 points six different times, with his best performance coming against the Cavaliers in April, scoring 27 points while going 5-9 from deep.
JOE INGLES
Joe “Jinglin’” Ingles turned a lot of heads this year when he put his steady 3-point shooting to good use to help the Utah Jazz secure the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Ingles would be breaking a lot of hearts in Utah if he were to leave this free agency, but the Australian native is bound to get a lot of offers coming his way after shooting 44.1 per cent from three-point land, the fourth highest clip throughout the 2016-17 season.
After starting only 23 games, Ingles’ hard work payed off when he started all 11 of the Jazz’s playoff games. Quinn Synder’s decision also payed off, with the Jazz beating the Clippers as the lower seed in a 4-5 matchup, while Ingles showed off his versatility with an 11-assist performance in a decisive Game 4.
At 6-foot-8, “Australian LeBron” has become one of the latest nicknames to describe the crafty 27-year-old. With a knack for making all the right plays, Ingles could be a perfect fit to replace DeMarre Carroll in the Raptors’ starting lineup.
JAMYCHAL GREEN
At his end of the season presser, Raptors president Masai Ujiri spoke about finding players with a sense of “fight” in them. If he wants that in the form of a capable three-point shooter, he should reach out to JaMychael Green.
The 6-foot-9 forward is bound for a relative payday, after earning the league minimum throughout the 2016-17 season. With a large frame and a high motor on defence developed over the last two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Green also proved himself as a reliable offensive option. He averaged 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds on 50 per cent shooting from the field, and 37.9 per cent from three-point distance.
Green’s versatility at his size would especially be handy for a team like the Raptors, who’ll once again have to find enough players that would be able to matchup against LeBron James.
VINCE CARTER
Well wouldn’t this be nice?
Vince Carter may not have the same burst and athleticism that once earned him the nickname “Air Canada”, but the 40-year-old has continued to withstand the tests of time as a quality veteran in the league.
Being a 37.4 per cent three-point shooter for his career has allowed the former nine-time all-star to age gracefully, currently sitting in fifth place for the most made threes in NBA history. In the first round, Carter proved once again that he still has what it takes to be a reliable contributor, starting all six games for the Grizzlies while averaging a solid 9.2 points on 40 per cent shooting from deep.
OMRI CASSPI
Having already played for five different teams throughout his seven-year NBA career (including three in the past year alone), Casspi is in need of a place to make him feel like he’s at home. Playing in the Air Canada Centre should give him that warm feeling, especially if he continues to convert on 36.7 per cent of his three-point attempts.
The 6-foot-9 small forward has had a couple of shining moments in his career. Throughout the 2014-15 season, Casspi hit career highs with 11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, while shooting 40.9 per cent from three-point distance; numbers only Kawhi Leonard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were able to match that year.
Because of his inability to find a place in the league, Casspi would be a cheap and low-risk option for the Raptors to go after this offseason.
GEORGE HILL
If Kyle Lowry decides to leave the Raptors, taking with him his 41.2 per cent 3-point shooting, Ujiri could find a reliable option in George Hill to take his place.
The eight-year veteran point guard is no stranger to the Raptors, torching them throughout the 2016 playoffs when he hit 48.1 per cent of his three-point attempts as a member of the Pacers.
Hill had another successful season with the Jazz in 2016-17, running the show for a young squad with averages of 16.9 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 40.3 per cent from three-point distance. At 6-foot-3, with a pair of conference final appearances under his belt, he would fit right into what the Raptors would like to do on the defensive side of the ball, too.
PATTY MILLS
Knowing he’s the heir to Tony Parker’s spot in the starting lineup, it’s hard to believe Mills will leave the Spurs. It’s a well earned position for Mills, having established himself as a reliable three-point shooter, hitting 39.5 per cent of his attempts throughout his career.
Choosing between Mills and another former Spur, Cory Joseph, will be a tough decision for Ujiri, but it’s never a bad idea to have a pair of point guards molded by Popovich leading your offence moving forward.