Mar 17, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Roger Mason Jr. (8) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Hornets 97-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Before we look at free agents, we must turn our attention to the SG mess at the end of the Raps’ bench. Linas Kleiza has a player option at $4.6M, which he is sure to exercise. While it’s easy to say Linas should simply be Amnestied, if you use it on him, you can’t use it on Andrea Bargnani. A decision on Kleiza may have to wait a few months, even into training camp. Ultimately it will come down to determining if he will ever be healthy again. If no, take the hit, and move him on, perhaps with a buy-out and waive rather than Amnesty. If yes, bring him to camp, and find out what he can contribute.

Alan Anderson and Mickael Pietrus are Unrestricted Free Agents. Alan revels in his role as Beloved Elder Statesman, and is a fan favourite, but his production tumbled dramatically as the season wound down. He gets a camp invitation, and no more, which is better than I’d offer Pietrus.

Scanning the free-agent list, we see an inordinate number of yesterday’s-news players, like Jerry Stackhouse, Corey Maggette and Ben Gordon. Roger Mason Jr. has had many opportunities to hold a job, but it hasn’t happened. Both Monta Ellis and Kevin Martin will want huge money and a starting gig, so that’s a double whammy. Tyreke Evans is available, but his career has stumbled since his brilliant rookie campaign. We’ve already got a backslider named Landry Fields, we don’t need another.

As we continue our excavation, some intriguing names appear, like Ronnie Brewer, Martell Webster, Gary Neal and Wayne Ellington. Ronnie is nobody’s idea of a star in the making, but has size and experience and is a solid defender. He’s not someone you want shooting the ball. Martell has enjoyed a comeback season in Washington, starting 62 games, so I doubt he’d come to Toronto to sit. Gary’s game has improved in San Antonio (whose doesn’t?) and he will probably be re-signed with a hefty raise. Wayne has bounced around more than you’d like early in his career, but can shoot and defend. He’s big for an SG, and not a ball handler. I don’t think he’s a fit for the Raps, but Wayne will help somebody.

Feb 27, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ronnie Brewer (8) enters the game in action against the New Orleans Hornets during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

This exercise has proven to be a disappointment. I suppose I can see inviting Ronnie Brewer and Roger Mason Jr. to camp; both have positive reputations as low-maintenance types. Let them battle it out for 2 jobs with a healthy (?) Kleiza and Anderson.

Help me out here, Rapture Nation. Leave some better options in the Comments.

Brian Boake is Senior Editor for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.

Position:  Small Forward

Linas Kleiza. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Age:  27

Height:  6’8″

Weight:  234 lbs.

College:  Missouri

Season with Raptors: 2

2011-2012 Stats: 49 GP, 21.6 MPG, 9.7 PPG, 0.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 43.8 FG%, 34.6 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 12.45 PER

Analysis: Linas is a talented player in his second shot at the NBA. Whether this stint is any more successful than his first, when he disappointed the Nuggets, remains to be seen. Linas’ career arc has been more like a sine wave, punctuated by frequent trips to the injured list and disappointed coaches. While he seems fully recovered from the knee pain which cost him much of the last 2 seasons, Raps fans have reason to be wary. Was his fine play for an undermanned Lithuania at the Olympics a break-out or a tease?

Linas joined Miss Colangelo’s Home for Wayward Euros in 2010, following a year with Olympiacos in Greece. His return to the continent was necessitated when his expected step forward with Denver turned out to be in the other direction. To get another gig in the NBA must have been terrific news in the Kleiza household, but so far joy among the Toronto faithful has been muted.

Linas is a starting-quality small forward when he’s on. He’s plenty quick and very tough. When he enjoys a hot hand from distance, he can change a game by himself. Linas shows no fear, and will mix it up in the paint with the biggest, toughest hombres in the league.

Unfortunately few players are more inconsistent. While I wouldn’t label him a coach-killer, friend Dwane must wonder every game which Linas will show up to play. Linas is a technically sound player, in particular his jump shot displays textbook form – except it doesn’t find the bottom of the basket often enough.

Not that missing his previous 5 shots deters him from jacking up another one at his first opportunity. Commentators admire the quality of forgetting your misses, calling it “a shooter’s mentality.” I call it pigheaded. George Karl eased Linas out of the Denver rotation because he’s supposedly not a playmaker. That was 4 years ago; I’m not sure anything has changed. Linas was the backup to Carmelo Anthony, and to my eyes, some of Carmelo’s ball-stopping characteristics have rubbed off.

Defensively, Linas is a solid contributor who stays out of foul trouble. Early in his career, he was noteworthy for his shot-blocking, but one would assume his knee troubles have put paid to that skill. Last season he managed only 4 total.

Linas is a congenial fellow off the court, and is well-liked by the local press corps. However, he is not shy about getting in the face of anyone, whether opponent or teammate.

The stars are aligned for Kleiza this year. The Raps desperately need what he’s got to offer, namely solid outside shooting, no fear of taking the ball to the rack and a warrior’s attitude. He should be at the nexus of experience, health and youth, and is in the mix for a starter’s job at the 3-spot. He’s a veteran player with something to prove – will he?

Key stat to watch-PPG: But with a caveat: Linas will need to bring it every night. His pattern is 1 good game, followed by 2 indifferent ones. If Linas’ average after half the season is 10 PPG, he’ll need to have performed around that mark for most of the 41 games, and not use a 21-point outburst, or garbage-time buckets, to pad his number.

He stays on the floor if: Sometimes life is simple. If Linas moves the ball on offense, and scores when he takes good shots in rhythm, he plays.  If not, I believe Linas will be wearing another uniform before year’s end.

Brian Boake is a staff writer for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.