Do the Toronto Raptors need to make a significant move if Kawhi Leonard re-signs?
What happens this summer?
Now the season is over and one question remains. What will Kawhi do on July 1st? Have the Raptors done enough to convince him to re-sign?
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN continues to report that it is a two-team race between the Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors enter the offseason with a few advantages. They can offer Leonard more money than any other team. Leonard has built a relationship of trust with the Raptors. He knows that the team is committed to doing whatever it takes to keep him healthy and playing at the highest level. Finally, if Leonard returns he will rejoin a championship caliber roster, capable of repeating.
The Raptors have the majority of their core under contract for next season. Marc Gasol has a $25.6 million player option, which he is likely to exercise. Other than Leonard, Danny Green is the only other free agent who was part of the team’s regular rotation.
It makes sense for Leonard to re-sign, at least on a short-term deal. But if he does return, Ujiri and Webster need to decide whether it is necessary to make a big splash to improve the roster around Leonard.
The Raptors will be limited in the moves they can make this summer. The salary cap for next season is projected to be $109 million, with a luxury tax threshold of $132 million. Assuming the Raptors guarantee Chris Boucher’s contract (likely) and Gasol exercises his player option, the team has almost $109 million in committed salary for eight players.
Leonard is eligible to sign a new contract starting at $32.7 million. Re-signing Green to a new contract at $10 million per year would bring the total salary up to $151.6 million, with only 10 players under contract. If the Raptors were to fill out the rest of the roster with minimum contract players, the total for salaries and tax payments combined would be over $210 million.
Unless the Raptors significantly cut their payroll, the team will be over the luxury tax apron ($138 million) next season. As a result, they are restricted in terms of the resources available to add players. The Raptors will have access to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.7 million). Any player signed under this exception can sign for a maximum of three years. Also, the Raptors are not able to receive a player in a sign-and-trade.
Another barrier for the Raptors is that about 40 percent of the league will be free agents this summer. As such, there are limited trade options available.
Altogether, it will be very difficult to make additions to the roster.