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Are we sure 2021 cap space is the way to build the Toronto Raptors?

By Andrew Hughes

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: President Masai Ujiri, and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors pose for a photo with their Championship Ring after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: President Masai Ujiri, and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors pose for a photo with their Championship Ring after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Masai Ujiri (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Available cap space for the Toronto Raptors in the 2020 offseason

According to HoopsHype.com, the Toronto Raptors have just over $85 million on the books for the upcoming 2020 offseason. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA recently informed teams that they can expect a $115 million salary cap for the upcoming season and a $139 million luxury tax threshold, which leaves Toronto well-below both for the upcoming offseason.

If you recall, the NBA operates on a soft salary cap, which means that there are certain exceptions in which teams can pass the projected $115 million cap without paying a tax penalty. Bypassing the luxury tax threshold leaves teams needing to pay differing penalties given a variety of factors such as the number of recent seasons they have passed the threshold or the number of dollars that they passed the threshold. Last season, Toronto operated about $13.5 million over the luxury tax threshold and are about $5.9 million under the threshold this season.

All of this is to say that Toronto will have to operate under the luxury tax in 2020-21, if they are attempting to make massive moves — like a certain Greek phenom — come the summer of 2021. As it stands, the Toronto Raptors are about $52 million below the luxury tax for 2020-21 season, but they only have nine players on the roster currently.

The notable unrestricted free agents for the Raptors are Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Stanley Johnson has a player option for 2020-21 about $3.8 million, which given his lack of playing time he may choose to use for guaranteed income. Chris Boucher, Oshae Brissett, and Malcolm Miller are all restricted free agents, which gives management the ability to match offers if given by other teams.

The players that are the big chips for the Toronto Raptors in the upcoming offseason game are Gasol, Ibaka, and VanVleet.

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