You play GM: Decide the fate of the Toronto Raptors offseason
Bring Back the core
You’ve decided to keep this core unit. Let’s take a look at the roster, and see what the team needs can be targeted with the remaining exceptions.
- Point Guard: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet
- Shooting Guard: Danny Green, Norman Powell
- Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Miller
- Power forward: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher
- Center: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka
Really, this roster doesn’t need too much from a positional perspective. Starting and backup point guard, a couple of backup wings, and a backup center. Good thing, because there isn’t much that can be added to this group anyway.
Kawhi technically doesn’t have a useable backup, but in actuality, Powell and Anunoby will be used at small forward as much as SG/PF.
The team also has Dewan Hernandez and a few other undrafted free agents. For now, we’ll assume none make a standard NBA contract. Hopefully, they’re able to sign a G-League deal, but in terms of track record, you shouldn’t expect much from the 59th pick.
The Raptors have a couple of trade exceptions (all worth less than $3 million) and their taxpayer mid-level exception (approx $5.7 million). The trade exceptions likely won’t be used — at least not until the trade deadline– so that leaves only the mid-level (and minimum contracts, of course).
It is important to note that the Raptors don’t need to use their mid-level. They didn’t last offseason, and MLSE might just want to pocket the additional cash instead. But you’re playing GM, so we’ll give you access to the full asset pool.
Because they don’t have any positional needs, Toronto is free to target other on-the-court areas with their exception. They could use a player who can create their own shot, a bulldozing rebounder, and another sharpshooter who can space the floor during the playoffs (did you watch the 76ers series).
They technically can split the option, but with a deep roster, it’s probably best to use it on one impact player. The other spots will be filled with veteran minimums.
So take your pick of targets with the Taxpayer MLE: