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Toronto Raptors: Three young free-agent targets

By Mike Bossetti

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Rudy Gay #22 of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Tyrone Wallace #12 of the Los Angeles Clippers as he drives to the basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center on April 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Rudy Gay #22 of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Tyrone Wallace #12 of the Los Angeles Clippers as he drives to the basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center on April 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 11: David Nwaba #11 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball while being guarded by Ish Smith #14 of the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at the United Center on April 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 11: David Nwaba #11 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball while being guarded by Ish Smith #14 of the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at the United Center on April 11, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

David Nwaba

Currently an unrestricted free-agent after the Chicago Bulls pulled his qualifying offer, David Nwaba has shown flashes of an impactful player in his first two seasons.

When watching Nwaba, his physical gifts jump off the screen.

For a tanking Chicago team, Nwaba served as a defensive specialist, regularly guarding the opposing team’s best player. 6’4″, with a giant 7’0″ wing-span, he has no problem matching up with positions 1-3 and is at his best when guarding on-ball.

Offensively, Nwaba is still pretty raw, although his production is better than you would guess just watching him.

Nwaba averaged 12.1 points per 36 minutes with mediocre efficiency. Not great, but considering he played on one of the worst offenses in the NBA, not terrible either.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Nwaba’s game is his rebounding. As a 6’4″ shooting guard, Nwaba averaged more than seven rebounds per 36 minutes last season. That would rank second on the Raptors, only behind Jonas Valanciunas.

The largest area of concern for Nwaba at this time is his developing jump shot. Last year, he shot just over 34-percent from beyond the arc (not bad), but only attempted 1.1 shots per 36 minutes (bad).  At this stage, he only feels comfortable shooting if wide-open and even then can’t manage to shoot league average.

However, Nwaba is far from the first young player to struggle with his jumper and it’s reasonable to assume he will receive far better looks for the Raptors than he ever did with the Bulls.

Projected to be 26 years-old next season, Nwaba is older than most third year players. However with his defensive skill-set and offensive potential, he is worth a flyer.