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Toronto Raptors: 3 offseason moves that make Toronto competitive

By Jason Mills

TORONTO, ON - MAY 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates after sinking a buzzer beater to win Game Seven of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 12, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates after sinking a buzzer beater to win Game Seven of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 12, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Khem Birch (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Raptors offseason move No. 3: Target the Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic could help Toronto address their frontcourt in the off-season either via free agency or trade. In this scenario, assuming the Raptors trade for Wiggins and sign Drummond, the Raptors will need Powell to opt-out of his contract and then reject the team option they hold on Aron Baynes for 2021/22 to free up nearly another seven million in salary.

Should the deal for Drummond be in the $15 million range per year, the Raptors would still have $15 million to spend under a salary cap of $112 million. Orlando’s backup center, Khem Birch. would be a free agent this summer after making just $3 million this season. Toronto could more than double his salary to $7 million a season.

He could back up Drummond if that’s the move at the center position for Toronto or platoon with Boucher at the power forward spot. Birch would be another Canadian player performing at a high level on the court.

Khem Birch would be a solid backup for the Raptors

Birch is averaging just over 20 minutes a game and 5.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in that time this season. Assuming that the Magic will value Birch highly and take him off the board with a rich contract, Toronto could inquire about a deal for Mo Bamba, who Birch has superseded in Orlando’s rotation to back up Nikola Vucevic.

Bamba is a former lottery pick who could be acquired via trade, and his cap hit is only $7.5 million for next season, after which he is a restricted free agent in 2022. In his third NBA season, Bamba is averaging 4.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

These moves would leave the Raptors with a starting lineup of Fred VanVleet, Andrew Wiggins, OG Anunoby, Khem Birch, and Andre Drummond. It will be a more balanced lineup if head coach Nick Nurse incorporates interior plays off the pick-and-roll that allows his bigs to attack the basket.

It would also give this lineup more length and athleticism in the frontcourt at the defensive end where the Raptors rebounding and lane intimidation have been ineffective all season long. Wiggins potentially would give the Raptors the star game-changer they have been missing since Kawhi Leonard left in the summer of 2019.