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Toronto Raptors: Predicting the 2018 buyout market

By Mike Bossetti

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 5: Ersan Ilyasova #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 5: Ersan Ilyasova #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Kenneth Faried attends the Epic Games Hosts Fortnite Party Royale on June 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Kenneth Faried attends the Epic Games Hosts Fortnite Party Royale on June 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images) /

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to be better this season, and in the bottom of the Eastern Conference, you never know. Still, despite their changes, Brooklyn will likely be out of contention by March. Owning their own pick for the first time in seemingly 50 years, they should commit to tanking and tanking hard.

Ed Davis:

Ed Davis fits most of the criteria for a candidate, except he has one major flaw. Davis is too good and on too small of a contract. He will almost certainly fetch the Nets a decent deadline price, rather than be released for nothing. (Unless they pull a Memphis Grizzlies and keep him for no reason)

Kenneth Faried:

The mediocre cluster of players exchanged between the Nets, Nuggets, and Suns continues to produce candidates for buyout candidates.

The previously mentioned big-man log-jam (big-man log-jam would be a great band name) in Denver made Faried as expendable as his former teammate Darrel Arthur, and after seven seasons and one massive contract extension, the Nuggets finally cut bait.

Faried offers very little of what is needed in a modern NBA big-man. He doesn’t protect the rim, doesn’t space the floor, and despite his reputation, is a pretty poor overall defender. However he still does have one skill, rebounding, and that skill he is ELITE at.

He is also an efficient enough scorer, due to his high field goal percentage and solid free-throw shooting.

Faried offers one elite skill. That’s more than most 15th roster spots. If Toronto picks him-up they will undoubtedly have a specific role in mind.

Jared Dudley:

If you looked up solid veteran presence in the dictionary, I’d probably question why you didn’t google it. And if you actually did look it up on google, Jared Dudley is on the first page of image results.

Dudley is a 12-year veteran, and if you go by the advanced numbers, still a very productive player. According to on/off statistics, Dudley might be the most productive player on this list other than Ed Davis(again not going to happen).

I am a little less bullish on those numbers. Much of Dudley’s on/off statistics are based against the two dumpster fires known as Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. Other than play smart, mistake-free basketball Dudley doesn’t offer much. (That is still very important!)

If Dudley is picked up by the Raptors it is likely a sign that the team is comfortable with their rotation and would like to just add a solid presence before a hopeful “Championship Run”.

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Perhaps only a handful of these players will be available for the Raptors this buyout season. Perhaps they will ultimately decide to bring in no-one. Regardless, they should at least plan for the possibilities available later this season.