3 players who could leave the Toronto Raptors at the end of the season

Marc Gasol

While his scoring numbers have reached career-lows, Marc Gasol is still making a tremendous impact for the Toronto Raptors since being traded to the team in February 2019. Gasol was the final piece in the puzzle that brought the Raptors their first-ever NBA championship and, despite missing significant time due to injury this season, he’s been just as impactful.

Still, Gasol is in the final year of his contract and he’s set to be a free agent this summer. As it stands, he’s earning $25,595,700 from the Raptors this season – an exorbitant amount for a player that has only played in 36 games this season. Gasol has averaged 7.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 42-percent from the field and 40-percent from deep.

He’s only taking just over six shots per game and his inside game has suffered as a result. Gasol is shooting just 53-percent from within five feet of the basket and 17-percent from midrange. Most of his work in scoring comes as a stretch five now. That’s okay for the Raptors, as they can operate with Gasol on the perimeter, but having him as an inside presence would be just as valuable.

The Raptors face an interesting decision in free agency, though. Both Gasol and Serge Ibaka – the teams two primary centers -are free agents, and the Raptors can likely afford to pay just one of them. Since Ibaka is five years younger than Gasol and coming off of one of the best seasons of his career, it seems probable that the Raptors will want to roll with him.

If the Raptors can’t afford to keep both of their big men, Gasol could well be the odd man out.