Toronto Raptors: Previewing the upcoming 2020 free agent class
Bench wings who can be a quality part of the rotation
Cedi Osman
In the barren wasteland known as the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, it’s easy to forget about the players who don’t project to be superstars or even All-Stars. However, just two years in the league, there is plenty to like about Cedi Osman‘s game.
The former 31st overall pick is 6-foot-8, reasonably athletic, and skilled enough to play on the perimeter. Last season with the Cavaliers he averaged 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He posted an effective field goal percentage of greater than 50-percent which is impressive considering Cleveland’s other options, and he shot the three-ball at just under 35-percent.
Osman might not be a player who wows you away. He’s probably not even a starter moving forward.
However, in a league starved for wings, he could be a valuable piece next to either Siakam or Anunoby. Osman is a combo-forward who can wear a multitude of different hats if necessary.
Cleveland is much farther away in their rebuild than Toronto. Next offseason, they may very well be focussed on taking big swings, rather than hitting the single in front of them.
If that’s the case, the Raptors should at least be giving Cedi a call. He can shoot, he has the potential to become a solid defender, he can fit next to the Raptors young core on the wings.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
The Sacramento Kings sure do love them some older players with little experience in the NBA. Like Hield, Bogdanovic is already 26-years-old. Also like Hield, he’s been sneaky productive during his first couple of seasons in the NBA.
During his first two seasons in the NBA, Bogdanovic has averaged 12.9 points, 3.5 assists, and posted an effective field goal percentage of above 50-percent (51.2). He can shoot, he can handle, and he can rebound well enough for a shooting guard.
Bogdanovic’s biggest problem is he doesn’t fit well next to Buddy Hield. Both players are defensive liabilities, particularly guarding small forwards, and as a result, become a flammable combination.
Consider the defensive capabilities of other members of their core —Harrison Barnes (average), Marvin Bagley (bad), and Harry Giles (bad) — and it’s easy to see why they might move on from Bogy this offseason.
In Toronto, surrounded by other top-end defensive pieces, Bogdanovic could be a nice shooter and secondary ballhandler. He and Powell are similar level players and could have themselves a nice competition for starting shooting guard. With Powell’s athleticism and length, they could exist on together on the court as well.
Taurean Prince
Similar to Joe Harris and Caris LeVert, whether Toronto is able to grab Taurean Prince largely depends on how much Brooklyn values him. At some level, they won’t be able to pay everybody, and the Raptors might be left at the mercy of the Nets decision as much as their own. However, no matter who the Nets leave off, the Raptors should at least take a moderate pursuit.
Prince can play either forward position, is moderately athletic, and can shoot the ball from the perimeter. Last season for the Hawks, Prince averaged 13 points on good efficiency, shooting the ball at a high percentage from the perimeter and at the rim.
Defensively, he’s a work in progress. Long, athletic, and built like a brick out-house, Prince is someone who looks like a good defender but actually isn’t. In a way, he parallels DeMar DeRozan on that end. He’s not incredibly intuitive and not incredibly engaged either. If he wants to take the next step forward, it will likely come on that end of the floor.
Despite his flaws, Prince is already a rotation-quality player in this league. If he can work to become an average defender, Toronto can protect him with Anunoby and Siakam. If the Nets decide Prince is the player they’re willing to let walk, the Raptors should be ready to bring him in.
Royce O’Neale
Mike Conley is on a monster deal. Donovan Mitchell is two-years away from an extension (will be one year during 2020 offseason). Rudy Gobert is due for another pay increase as well.
When you’re a small market set to pay major prices for team superstars, you start to lose around the margins (See Malcolm Brogdon). And quality players like Royce O’Neale get poached.
Royce O’Neale isn’t anything special (which is one reason why Utah won’t be focussing on him). He is, however, a rotation-quality player who can provide quality defense and capable three-point shooting. In a league obsessed with “Three-and-D” wings, O’Neal is a rare option who actually provides both.
The Raptors should make a run at O’Neale and see if the Jazz blink. He’s primarily a small forward and could serve as Anunoby’s backup and as someone who could play alongside Anunoby when he shifts down to power forward.
The Raptors will try to backchannel and press for leaks to see if Utah is set on matching any O’Neale offer. If they’re instead focussed on Mitchell and Gobert’s upcoming deals (understandable), Toronto should make a push for a quality rotation piece.