Toronto Raptors: Five potential targets with the Taxpayer MLE

With limited cap space, the Toronto Raptors may have to think outside the box and use their Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception if they want to acquire free agents this offseason. Who are five targets they can turn to?

The maniacal period of the NBA season is finally upon us, and more importantly, the Toronto Raptors. All being well for Toronto, they may not have much wiggle room in terms of cap space this coming season.

The Raptors will have the taxpayer mid-level exception — projected to be around $5,711,000 in the 2019-20 season — at their disposal should they intend on using it. Though it’s worth noting that using the exception seems more likely if Danny Green leaves this offseason. Hopefully, that won’t be the case and the Raptors bite the bullet and use everything at their disposal to try to remain as contenders.

It’s also likely that the Raptors keep the cards close to their chest, holding onto the exception until buyout season. Jeremy Lin was the high-key acquisition during the 2018-19 buyout period for the Raptors, but his production with the team was fairly limited. It’s fair to say he didn’t meet the expectations of the team.

Either way, the Raptors could probably use some options to boost their team. Especially if they hope to make another run at the title, and if they keep Kawhi Leonard — which is the primary objective of the offseason — expect that to be the case.

This free agency pool is full of productive players that all need to sign somewhere. They can’t all go to the same spot, so by virtue, it’s likely the Raptors could be in for at least one of the players on this list. Whether they can acquire them is a different question entirely.

Then again, who wouldn’t want to play with the NBA champions?