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Raptors: 5 free agents still on the market Toronto could sign

By Avishai Sol

Mar 7, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon (14) drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) as Memphis forward Kyle Anderson (1) looks on at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon (14) drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) as Memphis forward Kyle Anderson (1) looks on at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 1, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Wizards guard Shabazz Napier (5) dribbles the basketball during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 1, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Wizards guard Shabazz Napier (5) dribbles the basketball during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Shabazz Napier

A similar cost/benefit ratio to Isaiah Thomas, Napier is less likely to win your team playoff game but also less likely to completely flame out. This might be the most likely pickup of anyone on this list. Why? Because he’s been the same solid bench point guard his entire life, nine points, four assists, decent enough minutes.

Picking up Napier would be a classic Masai Ujiri move. Finding a player who knows who he is and plugging an adult into a system role to improve the rest of the team.  The Raptors won’t be turning any heads after a Lowry trade and neither will Napier.

Napier can be a quality backup point guard for the Raptors

What he will be is a place holder. Someone who can keep the team respectable while the front office plans its next move. His unique blend of sharp passing and clutch shooting should be warmly received in Toronto.

With Lowry and VanVleet sharing the floor for heavy minutes, the lack of a true backup point guard has done a number on Toronto whenever they lift the starters. Coming off of the best offensive season of his career, Napier should be a quality reserve that can take some of the pressure off of Toronto’s star guard duo.