Toronto Raptors: Who is Leaving at the End of the Year?

By Kevin Nimmock | Apr 3, 2015

The Toronto Raptors have six players with contracts expiring at the end of this season. Last summer, to the great credit of GM Masai Ujiri, the team was able to keep just about everyone from the year before (sorry John Salmons), while still adding a few key pieces. So, with the future uncertain for over a third of the team’s roster, it’s worth making some predictions about who might stay and who might go.

Of the players with contracts expiring, only two of them really log considerable minutes: Amir Johnson and Lou Williams. The two are in very different situations, since Johnson is the longest serving current Raptor, who has had a key role for this team for six years. Williams, on the other hand, arrived in Toronto only last summer, but has been enjoying career-high numbers for his new team. Both are now veterans with a lot to offer any team in the NBA.

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My prediction is that Williams will stay in Toronto. I think he has been pleasantly surprised by his time in the city. His game has never looked better, averaging 15.1 points per game in only 25 minutes off the bench. He is constantly being mentioned in Sixth Man of the Year talks and he has really increased his value for the future. He will look to build on this year’s success and keep plucking away in the six.

I think Johnson’s tenure in Toronto will come to a close during the summer. He has regressed slightly this season and as he gets older, he will continue to be plagued with ankle problems. While he has been the heart and soul of the Raptors since arriving in 2009, the team will likely have to cut ties in an effort to look towards the future. Johnson is still a hard worker with decent rebounding skills, so he should be able to find a new home fairly easily.

Now comes the less exciting players. Of the four other guys with contracts expiring, I think only one will be re-signed: Tyler Hansbrough. Landry Fields, Chuck Hayes and Greg Stiemsma will all have to find new places to play. Each of the three has a significant detriment to his longevity in the league. Fields can’t shoot because of elbow surgeries, Hayes is getting older and has virtually no offensive game, and Stiemsma can do little more than block shots somewhat effectively.

Hansbrough has the ability to be an important contributor for the Raptors. He can rebound, play physical defence and occasionally shoot. But, what he does most importantly is hustle like crazy. He never gives up, embodying the attitude that head coach Dwane Casey tries to instil in all of his players.

Keep in mind, it’s early to start making predictions. While these moves make sense now, the playoffs could significantly change the way we look at things. Everything will be different if the Raptors do very well or if they flame-out early. Check back here in a few weeks for an update.

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