Toronto Raptors: Five potential targets with the Taxpayer MLE

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Toronto Raptors – Jordan Loyd (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Justin Holiday

Following on from Taj Gibson, we now look at another former Chicago Bull in the shape of one Justin Holiday.

Holiday, who spent three seasons in Chicago, is coming off a fairly strong year as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded for the swingman back in January 2019.

Averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, Holiday started in 39 of his 44 games as a member of the Grizzlies. Much like Gibson, Holiday wouldn’t project to be a starter in an ideal scenario, more of a peripheral rotation player.

What he can provide, though, is solid minutes as a three-and-D wing player. Holiday is a career 35-percent shooter from three, averaging a fairly consistent four triples per game. An average three-point shooter at best, Holiday still hits often enough to keep defenders honest.

Defensively, Holiday is still more than capable of defending multiple positions and possesses quick hands. He averaged 1.5 steals this season and had 18 games with at least three steals this season, and two games with five steals.

In terms of guard depth, the Raptors currently have Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell on their books, with Jeremy Lin, Patrick McCaw, and Danny Green all set to head into unrestricted free agency.

58-percent of Holidays shots came without a dribble and the Raptors have enough ball handlers to feed into that.

Spot-up shooters are a valuable asset in the NBA and as a back-up, Holiday could fit nicely in Toronto.