Through the draft and free agency, the Toronto Raptors have brought five new faces into the fold.
Just as quickly as it began, the NBA’s free agency period is winding down. With the re-signing of Fred VanVleet and the shuffling of key big men standing as the Toronto Raptors‘ most significant changes.
Barring any unforeseen surprise moves by Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster, and company, the Raptors’ roster for the coming season is basically set, save for a minor tweak or two down the depth chart. As it stands, the club decided to release Dewan Hernandez before his guaranteed contract kicks in for the season and will have to make the same judgment call on Terrence Davis II, while also coming to terms with second-round pick Jalen Harris.
It seems, then, that the team we’ve got now won’t look any different from the one that emerges on opening night on December 22nd. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the five new faces who have joined the organization since the end of last season.
Aron Baynes
Losing Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol in free agency certainly hurt, but the Raps did well to recover by signing hard-nosed Aussie big man Aron Baynes – without jeopardizing their clean cap sheet for next summer. Baynes’ toughness and physicality should play well in the hockey-mad Toronto market. Perhaps more significantly, the soon-to-be 34-year-old has enjoyed a late-career evolution into a deep threat on the offensive end (he shot 35% from deep last year) in Phoenix.
As the most established big man on the Raptors roster, Baynes might actually see his role expand even further. If he’s essentially replacing Gasol, then he will likely be asked to play roughly the 26 minutes per game they got from the Spaniard last season, more than Baynes has ever played. For now, a crunch time lineup of VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Baynes looks like the club’s top option.
Alex Len
As the No. 5 selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, Alex Len holds the distinction of being the highest-drafted player on the Raptors roster. That lofty draft status has inspired a bust label for the seven-footer, who hasn’t found a great fit across four previous NBA homes. But Ujiri isn’t afraid of a developmental project, particularly one who is still just 27 and boasts impressive Per 36 numbers.
Now, the Ukrainian big man gets something of a fresh start in Toronto, where he could see time working alongside erstwhile coaching consultant Jack Sikma, who helped tutor Jonas Valanciunas. More significantly, there’s also the presence of Lowry, who has made larger teammates a lot of money (just ask Bismack Biyombo) thanks to his mastery of the pick & roll.
At worst, Len can spell Baynes and Chris Boucher for a few minutes while offering some rim protection and rebounding. But there’s the chance that the seven-year vet, who averaged 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds just two seasons ago, could represent the type of hidden gem that Ujiri has been so good at extracting.
DeAndre’ Bembry
Another low-risk flyer, DeAndre’ Bembry makes up for a complete lack of offensive polish with a non-stop motor on the defensive end. In true Raptors form, the 6’5″ wing is also a very versatile defender, capable of chasing around point guards and bodying up on bigger forwards.
The Bembry signing, curiously broken by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, won’t do much to bolster the club’s second unit scoring (Norm Powell will still be relied upon there), but it will improve overall depth, make them tougher to play against and add another player who fits the culture of the team.
One thing that will have to be resolved ahead of training camp, however, is Bembry’s No. 95. That number, of course, has adorned the jersey of The Raptor, Toronto’s beloved mascot, since day one as a tribute to the franchise’s year of birth. The number carries an entirely different significance to the 26-year-old former Atlanta Hawk, who wears it as a tribute to deceased younger brother, Adrian, who was shot trying to break up a fight. Surely Toronto can find a way to accommodate a number that carries so much meaning – especially since there’s no NBA rule about sharing a number with the team mascot.
Malachi Flynn
If the Toronto Raptors decide not to bring Davis back, the pending assault charges against him will clearly be the paramount reason. On the court, however, he may also be rendered irrelevant by the presence of Malachi Flynn. For as great a story as Davis was last season, the club risks sending a troubling message by keeping him around – and they might also be blocking the path of a better player. In the same vein as fellow ball handlers Lowry and VanVleet, the San Diego State product play with a chip on his shoulder stemming from being overlooked and under-recruited.
Flynn slid to the Raptors at 29 primarily because of his perceived lack of ceiling. At 22, he’s an older prospect – just a year younger than OG Anunoby, who was drafted three years prior. But with Davis’ status entirely up in the air and Lowry unlikely to play a full 72-game slate, Flynn’s age will stand as an advantage this year with Toronto valuing present NBA readiness. If all goes well for the pick and roll ace, he may find himself playing a critical role on an Eastern Conference contender.
Jalen Harris
Less clear is the role that the Raptors’ other rookie, Jalen Harris, might play this season. The Nevada product is also 22 and is fresh off leading the Mountain West Conference in scoring, but his path to playing meaningful minutes with the big club is less clear. The obvious answer would be a G League stint with Raptors 905, but who knows if and when and where that season will take place.
While Harris’ lack of initial role looms as an immediate question, that concern may be negated as the season continues. Harris’ greatest asset is his ability to create his own shot, a skill that could help buoy a second unit that may require some added offensive firepower. Even if it doesn’t, the emergence of the second-round pick could enable a trade of Powell and his cap-tightening $11.6 million player option for next season.
The common thinking on the Raptors’ off-season seems to hold that they took a small step back talent-wise to maintain flexibility and big picture thinking for next summer. And, to be fair, few people would trade Ibaka and Gasol for Baynes, Len and Bembry.
Still, Toronto still projects to remain a playoff contender even as they position themselves as players in the summer of 2021. For now, they’ve brought in a sure thing in Baynes and bet on former first-rounders Len and Bembry as change-of-scenery development candidates who could be poised for breakouts. In Ujiri and Webster, we trust.