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:
Jahlil Okafor six-foot-ten Center
Jahlil Okafor was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2015. He has now spent five seasons in the NBA, most of which has been unspectacular. Should the Toronto Raptors sign this New Orleans Pelicans center, it would not be a grand move. It would not be meant as one but one that solidifies depth on the Toronto Raptors team.
Okafor’s most prolific season in the NBA was his rookie season of 2015/16. Back then, he averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds per game. However, he had not scored in double digits since his sophomore season when he produced 11.8 points a game. Unless he returns to New Orleans, he will be looking for employment on a fourth team in six seasons.
One of the main issues with Jahlil Okafor has been health. He has only played in 220 games out of a potential 400 regular-season games in his career. However, he was an extremely efficient scorer in 2020, with New Orleans, connecting 62.3 percent of his field goals. He also became a credible three-point shooter in 2020, making 33.3 percent of his long-range attempts.
There are several benefits he could bring to the Toronto Raptors. First, as a backup player, he would be more productive offensively than Marc Gasol was in 2020, who only averaged 7.5 points per game as a starter and was injury-prone. Further, Jahlil Okafor was paid 1.7 million in 2020, so even doubling his salary does not hamstring the Raptors’ salary cap flexibility.
Nerlens Noel Six-foot-ten Center/Power Forward
Nerlens Noel, like Jahlil Okafor, was a former draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers. In Noel’s case, he was the sixth pick in 2013. Due to an ACL tear in February of 2013, a few months before he was drafted, Noel was forced to miss his rookie season.
During his six seasons in the NBA, Noel has played for three different teams(Philadelphia, Dallas, and Oklahoma City). His best offensive season came during his sophomore year in the NBA when he averaged 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. Since then, his minutes per game have also dropped off from 29.3 minutes per game to 18.5.
What is intriguing about Nerlens Noel as a depth player is that he is still just 25 years old. Also, he is athletic and a defensive style center who blocked 1.5 shots per game in 2020. His scoring average was only 7.4 points per game in 2020, but he also made 33 percent of three-point attempts.
If like Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel is improving his long-range shooting, he will fit into the Raptors offensive system and help stretch the floor from the center position. He can also anchor the defense with his rim-protector ability. Ultimately, Noel made slightly over two-million dollars in 2019/20, making him another reasonably priced addition if Raptors’ management reached out to him.
Jabari Parker Six-foot-eight Power Forward
Besides adding talent to their roster at the center position, the Toronto Raptors will need an adequate backup to all-star power forward Pascal Siakam. Stanley Johnson, who’s one year contract has expired, did not work out. Players like Chris Boucher and Dewan Hernandez are still developing.
One player who has struggled overall in his development in the NBA but has proven he can be a scorer is Jabari Parker. The Raptors struggled offensively, ranking 14th overall in the NBA in this category. A closer look at why also reveals that they were 21st overall in scoring in the paint.
Parker, who averaged 14 points a game in 2020, was a dynamic scorer before injuries hampered his career in 2017. Parker was a 20.1 per game scorer in 2016/17. He would provide the Raptors with a scoring presence off the bench, and, in the past, he has shot 38.3 percent on three-point shot attempts, although it was in 31 games in 2017/18.
At age 24, there is still a chance for Jabari Parker to be the player he was expected to be. The Raptors would provide him with a winning environment to continue his development. Provided he is healthy, he could provide the Raptors with a talented scoring backup to Pascal Siakam and at a reasonable price point. With a player option in his contract, Parker could opt out of the final year at 6.5 million and become a free agent the Raptors could sign.