Could Nando De Colo play for the Toronto Raptors next season?

Nando De Colo is a former player for the Toronto Raptors who tore up the EuroLeague. Might he be returning to do the same with the Dinos?

The Toronto Raptors hold the rights to an intriguing player, Nando De Colo. He was last seen in the NBA in 2013-2014, appearing in 21 games before taking his talents to Third Rome, playing for CSKA Moscow.

De Colo is a soon-to-be 32-year-old 6’5″ guard who has decided to part ways with CSKA. His contract with the team has expired and he expressed his desire to move on. On the team’s website, he was quoted saying,

"“I have achieved everything possible with CSKA. Now, I think I have a chance to change something. To find a new challenge and fight again at the highest level.”"

CSKA is losing a Euro superstar. His best season came in 2016 when he was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP and the league’s season MVP. He also earned the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy that year. His accolades don’t end there. He won the Euroleague title with Moscow twice, including the 2019 championship. He was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team on three occasions and a part of the All-EuroLeague Second Team twice.

This past season, De Colo played 34 games for CSKA. He averaged 14.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. In his career with the team, he also shot an impressive 44.7-percent from three-point range.

Because the Raptors extended qualifying offers to the French native, they currently own the right of first refusal. They will have that same opportunity this summer. For the Raptors, this means that if they once again give him a qualifying offer, they are given the opportunity to match any offer sheet he signs with another NBA team.

But the NBA might not be the Raptors only competition. Though De Colo may also return to a familiar spot and play for the Spanish club, Valencia Basket Club.

He has been linked to both the NBA and Valencia. With his experience, the question is, could he be a productive player in North America?

For the Raptors, they would be interested in De Colo if their scouts believe that he could play an impactful role in the team’s rotation. If they felt that his experience and championship pedigree would be a good addition, he may be asked to come off the bench for Nick Nurse. If both his and the Raptor’s interests are aligned, it would then require both sides to agree to a reasonable contract.

The Raptors are challenged by being pushed up against the cap. Should they re-sign Kawhi Leonard, they are likely to be paying deep into the luxury tax once again. As a result, they are expected to be economical with their peripheral players. If De Colo wants to play in Toronto, he must be a cost-effective pickup.

Time will tell what decides De Colo’s fate. It may be fun to watch him use the skills he honed overseas, to rejoin the Raptors and redefine himself as an NBA player.