You play GM: Decide the fate of the Toronto Raptors offseason

5 of 24

Toronto Raptors – Norman Powell (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Austin Rivers with MLE

You decided to sign Austin Rivers with your Mid-Level Exception. Rivers has been the subject of many jokes throughout his career, but he was a reasonably productive player with the Rockets. He gives Toronto what it desperately needs, a bench scorer who can create looks for himself and others.

Assuming Chris Boucher and Malcolm Miller are not cut, that brings the roster to 12 players. The team still needs a third-string center (or some type of post, depending on where you put Boucher) and an additional guard.

It’s reasonable that, for the time being, the Raptors will enter the season with only 14 players. Their tax bill is already through the roof and the need of their 15th spot would likely be based on injury. That leaves two spots available.

As a contender, Toronto will be able to attract veteran players looking for a ring, more than younger players looking for playing time. As a result, their free-agent pool will look older and better than most.

A couple of possible third-string center options (not all of these will be available):

Kyle O’Quinn
Tyson Chandler
Joakim Noah
Kosta Koufos
Eric Moreland

A couple of possible guard options (not all of these will be available):

Garrett Temple
Raymond Felton
Alec Burks
Jodie Meeks
Isaiah Thomas

For illustrative purposes, we will move forward with Joakim Noah and Jodie Meeks, but understand you can fill in whoever you’d like.

That means the final roster you’ve chosen is:

Point Guard: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet
Shooting Guard: Danny Green, Austin Rivers, Jodie Meeks
Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Malcolm Miller
Power forward: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher
Center: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Joakim Noah

Not happy with the results? Feel free to start back over.