The 2020 NBA off-season presents several roster issues that the Toronto Raptors must address. While everyone focuses on what to do about Fred VanVleet, the Raptors frontcourt is in dire need of replenishment.
The Toronto Raptors frontcourt is in disarray as the NBA Draft approaches on November 18th, 2020. Some big-name free agents could be signed to address the issue, like Montrezl Harrell or Hassan Whiteside. The Raptors could even go low grade and address some of their frontcourt needs in the draft by selecting a prospect like Zeke Nnaji.
The current issue is that both their starter and backup at the center position in 2020, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, are free agents. With Stanley Johnson also a free agent and a permanent fixture at the end of head coach Nick Nurse’s bench in 2020, the team lacked a consistent backup to power forward Pascal Siakam.
This means only developing power forward Chris Boucher and 2019 second-round draft pick center Dewan Hernandez remain on the roster as frontcourt players. The management team of the Toronto Raptors will need three big men to restock the roster.
The situation may be more urgent, with fans believing that Serge Ibaka removed all mention of the Toronto Raptors from his Instagram bio. The fear is that he may not return to Toronto. For his part, Ibaka tweeted the following:
I know the NBA and free agency news are slow right now but there is no need to make up news lol. I’ve had the same IG bio for years and did not change anything now. Be well everyone! #wethenorth
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) October 16, 2020
After acquiring the seven-foot center on February 14th, 2017, Serge Ibaka has been integral to the Toronto Raptors’ success. He posted his best season stats in 2020 with averages of 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and a three-point average of 38.5 percent per game. The “we the north” hashtag at the end of his tweet could alleviate fans’ fears or could have been meant to quiet the chatter if Ibaka does not re-sign in Toronto.
Either way, the Raptors need to address the power forward and center positions this off-season. Here are three under the radar signings that could help: