With the NBA getting ready to hit free agency come July 1, the Toronto Raptors are busy looking for ways to improve their roster.
Now that they have consecutive 50-win seasons under their belt, the Raptors are among the elite teams in the league. But they have also yet to form a roster capable of winning a championship.
With that goal still in reach, and four of their players hitting the market this summer, Masai Ujiri will definitely face some of his hardest decisions yet. He’ll also have flexibility – to some extent.
While Toronto has the cap space to go after max-contract type players, they’ve never been a prized destination, with DeMarre Carroll being was the last “big-time” free agent the Raptors were able to sign from, aside from those developed within the system.
Understanding this dilemma is key, especially as we now consider which players the Raptors will have a realistic chance to go after come Saturday.
Kyle Lowry
Age on July 1, 2017: 31
Position: Point Guard
2016-17 salary cap hit: $12 million
Of all the players available in free agency, excluding those who suited up for the Warriors, Kyle Lowry averaged the most points throughout the 2016-17 season.
Yes, he continued to struggle in the playoffs while also battling through another injury, but it would be foolish to deny that the three-time all-star is one of the biggest reasons the Raptors have become contenders in the East.
Last season, Lowry hit career-highs in points (22.4), rebounds (4.8), field goal percentage (46.4), and three-point percentage (41.2). He was just shy of a hitting new best with seven assists a game, while also leading the Raptors with 10.1 win shares.
If he wants to come back to Toronto, there should be nothing that stops him.
Joe Ingles
Age on July 1, 2017: 29
Position: Small Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $2.2 million
The Raptors were absolutely horrible from three-point distance against the Cavaliers in the playoffs. In a league where the three-ball is essential, Ujiri needs to find capable shooters to add to the roster like Joe Ingles.
The Australia native proved himself last season, converting on 44.1 per cent of his three-point attempts. He also started all of the Jazz’s 11 playoff games, which included an 11-assist performance against the Clippers.
Ingles will definitely get a pay raise, and it might be worth it for the Raptors if they’re looking for a replacement for Carroll in their starting lineup, and another player capable of playing anywhere on the wing.
C.J. Miles
Age on July 1, 2017: 30
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $4.5 million
C.J. Miles would be another candidate for the Raptors if they’re trying to fill up their roster with three-point shooters.
In a contract year last season, he proved himself by shooting 41.3 per cent from three-point distance, a new career-high. That season also included 27 different occasions where he hit at least three three-pointers in the same game.
At six-foot-six, Miles can serve as a backup for DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard, a reserve at small forward, or even a potential starter when needed. He should also be a cheaper option than Ingles and can serve as a spark plug.
Omri Casspi
Age on July 1, 2017: 29
Position: Small Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $3 million
A cheaper option than both Ingles and Miles, would be journeyman Omri Casspi who has yet to fully find his place in the NBA.
At six-foot-nine, he uses his height to his advantage as a solid three-point shooter. Playing for three teams last year may have taken a toll on the Israeli native, but before that he held a 40 per cent clip from three-point distance in back-to-back seasons.
Throughout the 2014-15 campaign, Casspi was at his best, hitting career-highs in points (11.8), rebounds (5.9), and three-point percentage (40.9).
Serge Ibaka
Age on July 1, 2017: 27
Position: Power Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $12.2 million
If the Raptors didn’t acquire Serge Ibaka at last season’s trade deadline, he would still be their most realistic option when trying to acquire a star power forward.
Unlike Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap, who are also free agents, Ibaka has never been an all-star. Titles aren’t everything, but they do factor in as bargaining chips when deciding the details of a contract, and also the role of a player.
Whether or not he’s received that honour, Ibaka has proven himself as one of the most versatile power forwards in the league, and a perfect fit for the Raptors. A three-time first team all defensive player, Ibaka also showed off his versatility on offence by averaging 14.2 points on 39.8 per cent shooting from three through 23 games in Toronto.
Ersan Ilyasova
Age on July 1, 2017: 30
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $8.4 million
If the Raptors decide to part ways with Patrick Patterson, they could find a capable backup in Ersan Ilyasova. Considering the fact that they’re also trying to fill a role on their bench, there’s no need to throw too much money at a player who’s disappeared over their last two playoff runs.
Both Patterson and Ilyasova are more comfortable playing off the bench, and are career 36 per cent shooters from three-point distance. While the Turkish forward might be a bit older, he’s proven himself to a better scorer and rebounder than Patterson, posting higher averages throughout last season and in his career.
Anyone who’s watched the Raptors knows that Patterson offers much more than what appears in the box score. But so have other teams’ GMs, who will most likely offer him more money than Ilyasova, who’s become quite the journeyman by playing for three separate teams in the past year.
JaMychal Green
Age on July 1, 2017: 27
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $980,431
The Raptors need to add some grit to their lineup along with some wing versatility, and there might not be a better player to turn to for a reasonable price than restricted free agent JaMychal Green.
The Raptors would need to push the Grizzlies’ hand, but it could still lead to a cheaper price tag than choosing to overspend for a player like Danilo Gallinari or Otto Porter Jr., another restricted free agent. In his time with Memphis, Green has proven he can fill a similar role.
At six-foot-nine, Green played both forward positions on his way to averaging 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. He also shot 37.9 per cent from three-point distance, which should entice GMs all around the league to give him a nice deal.
Arron Afflalo
Age on July 1, 2017: 31
Position: Shooting Guard
2016-17 salary cap hit: $12.5 million
If the Raptors are looking for a consistent scoring option off the bench, one who could fill Terrence Ross’s old role, they should ring up Arron Afflalo, who was waived earlier this month.
He had a rough season with the Kings, ending his six-year run of averaging at least 12 points a game, but as a 10-year veteran he can provide a steady presence for the Raptors off the bench by continuing to use his post-up game to his advantage.
The only problem with Afflalo is his age. At 31 years old, he seems to be the least likely option on this list for Ujiri to go after – especially if he’s after a long-term deal.
Willie Reed
Age on July 1, 2017: 27
Position: Centre
2016-17 salary cap hit: $1 million
There aren’t many centres available on the market this summer, making Willie Reed seem like a decent option for Ujiri to take a gamble on – much like he did with Bismack Biyombo in 2015.
If the Raptors are still looking to move on from Jonas Valanciunas, that means they won’t go after centres like Greg Monroe. They’re also not in the right place to spend big on a position that is slowly disappearing from the league, which crosses out free agent Nerlens Noel.
Instead, the Raptors can take a gamble on Reed, who averaged 13.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes throughout his career. Another selling point: In three of his five games as a starter last season for the Heat, he put up 20 points, also sprinkling in an 18-rebound outing.
P.J. Tucker
Age on July 1, 2017: 32
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
2016-17 salary cap hit: $5.3 million
The Raptors received a much-needed defensive boost last season when Ujiri was able to trade for P.J. Tucker. Now that he’s on the market, it’d be surprising to not see the Raptors try to lock up his services for at least another season.
With an ability to guard anything from a point guard to a power forward, Tucker is a good body to have on the Raptors’ roster when they inevitably cross paths with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Offensively, Tucker could be considered the worst option on this list other than Reed, but he did show an ability to convert on his three-point attempts with the Raptors, nailing 40 per cent of his shots from distance throughout 24 games.
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