Raptors: 3 Canadian players that could end up in Toronto soon

While the Toronto Raptors proved emphatically that even after the Grizzlies failed in Vancouver, a Canadian NBA team can still be run well, win consistently, and develop a passionate fanbase that unites the entire country. The success of the Raptors has helped inspire a whole new generation of Canadian-born ballers ready to make their mark on the basketball landscape.

Despite all of that, Toronto hasn’t always been the best with regards to adding native Canadiens to the roster. There have been some exceptions, however, especially considering how well Chris Boucher has played this season, but he has proven to be an exception. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Raptors became the central hub for all things Canadian basketball?

Rather than waiting on top high school prospect Elijah Fisher to end up in their laps, the Raptors might be able to make some moves either before this year’s trade deadline or during the offseason, as these three established veterans might end up playing back in their home country in 2021-22 and joining their fellow countryman in Boucher.

These three Canadian players could help the Toronto Raptors in the short and long term

Toronto Raptors Canadian Target No. 1: Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell can be an intriguing presence on offense for the Raptors

Like many Dallas Mavericks players not named Luka Doncic this season, Powell is struggling to put the ball in the basket, averaging just 4.6 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. This is a very sharp change from the last few seasons, as Powell has averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the floor.

A Toronto native, Powell, who is finding himself frozen out of an offense that is revolving more around Luka Doncic with each passing day, could be intrigued by the possibility of returning home.

Considering how the lack of an interior presence at either end of the floor has really hurt the Raptors this season, getting a 6-10 brick house that has a soft touch around the rim and can play solid defense should be considered.

Powell’s past three seasons are likely more indicative of the type of player he is than his slow start to the season. If his value starts to ebb away due to a poor 2020-21 season, Toronto might be able to snatch him up for cheap, forming a very talented frontcourt with Powell, Boucher, and Pascal Siakam.

Toronto Raptors Canadian Target No. 2: Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk could be a versatile big man on both ends of the floor for the Raptors

Powell isn’t the only Canadian big man that might be able to help the Raptors fix their issues on the interior, as Olynyk could be intrigued by trading South Beach for Toronto. After the Kamloops native was picked in the lottery by the Boston Celtics, Olynyk ended up in Miami, where has stayed for the last for seasons, after failing to truly become a superstar.

While Olynyk might not have become the offensive stud that Boston hoped, he is a more than capable player on that end, scoring 9.7 points per game in his career while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from three on 3.2 attempts per game.

The problem with Toronto’s big men right now is that their offensive game outside the paint remains lackluster. Siakam is starting to lose his three-point shot, Boucher’s shot is improving, but not a deadly weapon just yet, and Aron Baynes offers very little.

With solid distribution ability and a reliable offensive game, Olynyk could make for an upgrade over Baynes at center or a quality offensive option off of the bench. Maybe returning to his home country and getting his kinks ironed out by Nick Nurse could help Olynyk have a resurgence late in his career.

Toronto Raptors Canadian Target No. 3: Andrew Wiggins

Wiggins, dubbed “Maple Jordan” as he was preparing to dominate the college landscape at Kansas, ended up being picked first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers before getting traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Kevin Love deal. Since then, Wiggins has had a productive, yet unusual career.

Wiggins has scored like a No. 1 pick, but he was traded due to the fact he was a markedly less efficient player than most expected. When combined with some poor effort on the defensive end, Minnesota swapped him out in favor of D’Angelo Russell.

Wiggins ended up in Golden State. While still putting up quality scoring numbers, he’s always felt like an incongruous fit and an inadequate replacement for Klay Thompson. If the Warriors want to trade him away and retool, Toronto might end up as a potential landing spot, as they have the assets to make a deal and the need for a scorer like him.

Wiggins, who has averaged 19.6 points per game in his career, has done so while rarely featuring as the main scoring option on teams with players like Towns and Steph Curry. In Toronto, Wiggins could become the preferred perimeter scoring option, all the while providing a much higher ceiling than anyone else on this roster currently.

Adding him would be risky, but the potential to become a star in his homeland would make for quite the story.

Raptors: 3 offseason regrets Toronto is currently having

These are the 3 biggest regrets from the 2020 offseason that Masai Ujiri, Nick Nurse, and Toronto Raptors are having right now