The Toronto Raptors are expected to clean house in the offseason, both to take advantage of the cap space they could potentially be privy to and to wipe away the stench of one of the unluckiest seasons in NBA history. The last few games of this season will be used for development rather than contention.
The Raptors, who have been playing without the services of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet for extended periods of time, have let younger players assume greater roles in the rotation. First-round pick Malachi Flynn is starting to show his quality, and two-way standout Yuta Watanabe is making a case for a full NBA contract.
Most of the core of this team will be back next season, even if a Kyle Lowry departure is looking more likely by the day. The rest of the roster, however, is a question mark, as some Raptors might not be back next season.
Toronto needs bench depth, as the lack of a quality bench has been the reason why so many excellent scoring performances have been wasted this season. Plenty of Raptors are vying for the chance to prove their worth and viability for next year.
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The Raptors may have cap space, but they will need some of their bench players to step up if they want to remain competitive in what is becoming a very tough Atlantic division.
If these three players end up proving that they are worth keeping around for the long haul, Toronto might have a few cheap alternatives with which they could fill out their bench.
These 3 Toronto Raptors players could earn spots on the 2021 roster
No 1: C Khem Birch
Birch, a Canadian who called playing in Toronto a “dream come true” after the Orlando Magic got rid of him, was signed to serve as a more traditional, back-to-the-basket center since Aron Baynes has performed so poorly in that regard. In his first game with the club, he gave a tantalizing glimpse of what he could offer in the future.
Birch is not going to be a tremendous scorer, as evidenced by his low scoring averages and minimalistic offensive game, but Toronto has been crying out for a player with Birch’s skillset. He’ll get plenty of chances to prove he can stick with the Raptors in this upcoming stretch of games.
Will the Raptors bring back Khem Birch in 2021?
Birch will be a free agent at the end of this year, and the Raptors will have tons of cap space that they could use to bring a more experienced center with a more varied offensive game to town. Even if that is their prerogative, Birch has value in the NBA and has even more value on the Raptors, and he could prove it this season.
Birch will have a long career in this league if he continues to rebound, set screens, and play tough defense. Even if the Raptors sacrifice defense for offense in the starting lineup, it would be worth it to keep the Canadian in Canada and bring back Birch for one more year.
No 2: SF DeAndre’ Bembry
Bembry joined Toronto after he failed to find his footing with the Atlanta Hawks. While the former first-round pick’s lack of a reliable jump shot and Atlanta’s selection of more talented young shooters pushed him out, he’s proven to be one of the few halfway decent players on the bench this season.
Bembry has made 11 starts this season, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. The most impressive part of what Bembry has done this season is the fact that he has been able to play some 2-guard this year, often taking over when Lowry or VanVleet has been sidelined.
Will the Raptors bring back DeAndre’ Bembry in 2021?
Bembry’s scoring might be down when compared to what he was doing in Atlanta, but it is important to note that he is playing less minutes per game while still managing the best efficiency numbers of his career.
Bembry could be cut if it means that the Raptors could open up as much as $25 million in cap space this offseason, but he could change their minds with some strong play to close out the season. Getting bench depth will be high on Masai Ujiri’s priority list, and Bembry could help fill one of those spots.
No 3: SF Rodney Hood
The trade that sent Norman Powell to Portland and brought Gary Trent Jr. to Toronto wasn’t a straight swap, as it brought the eight-figure contract of Hood to the Raptors in the deal. Hood is looking to give Masai Ujiri a reason to guarantee his money for the 2021 season instead of letting him hit free agency.
Hood, before he tore his Achilles with Portland, was a former first-round pick out of Duke that could average double-digits with his eyes closed given his 6-8 frame and sweet shot. The prototypical small forward, Hood’s explosion has been limited due to his injury. 5.2 points per game on 40% shooting is slightly above his Trail Blazers averages, but that isn’t saying much.
Will the Raptors bring back Rodney Hood in 2021?
Hood might have the most to prove out of anyone in this stretch of games. Not only will he have to show that he can reclaim his old form and become the premier perimeter scorer off of the bench, but he needs to show he can be competent in that regard. If he progresses enough, a reunion might make sense for both parties.
Bringing back Hood might be met with some initial skepticism, as this year is proving he is firmly on the back end of his career. However, if Toronto is serious about contending next year, they could use a seventh man with his pedigree, and that might be enough to win a second go-around, especially if he bumps his shooting numbers up.