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5 Players the Raptors should target with the Taxpayer MLE

By Thomas Valentine

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Isaiah Thomas
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Isaiah Thomas /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Isaiah Thomas

No, really.

This one comes with a caveat, though. If Fred VanVleet, God forbid, winds up leaving the Raptors this summer, then Thomas could be a low-risk/high-reward situation. The market for him won’t be spectacular.  Doubts around his durability following his injury are still very much in the conversation.

Clearly, it was a season to forget for Isaiah Thomas. He shot 37% from the field, as well as 29% from 3. There’s also his defense, or lack of defense, to contend with. Thomas was a minus defender on court the whole season, finishing 498th in Defensive Rating (Min 30 games/25 MPG).

It could work though. Toronto has a suitable amount of players who are capable of defending the perimeter. Like Brad Stevens two seasons ago, Nick Nurse could just hide Thomas on the worst offensive players on the court. The work-rate just needs to be there, and at 29 years old it could be now or never for the 5’9” guard.

Next: One hypothetical Raptors' trade for every Eastern Conference team

Thomas was earning just over $6 million in L.A/Cleveland this past season. It doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that Toronto could pick him up on the MLE. The Raptors have seen first hand the damage he can cause on offense. His shifty guard play and ability to shoot from all over the court can be replicated again, he just needs some love.