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Toronto Raptors: “Pass or cash” on non-guaranteed deals or team options

By Ben Fisher

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors, Aron Baynes
No one has better embodied the struggles of the Raptors this season than Aron Baynes.  (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Aron Baynes

2021-22 Contract Status: $7.3 million, team option

In one sense, setting themselves up for a pre-max extension free agent pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo deeply hurt the Raptors, limiting their contract offers to Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol and sending the 2019 championship pillars elsewhere.

On the bright side, however, keeping the ’21-22 books clean also ensured no long-term money would be committed to Baynes.

The big Australian, a knee-jerk replacement signed after Gasol departed to the Los Angeles Lakers, has been a complete bust in Toronto on both sided of the ball.

The Toronto Raptors shouldn’t bring Aron Baynes back.

One of Ujiri’s rare personnel misses, Baynes has averaged career-lows in field goal percentage (43.1%) and three-point shooting (23.7%). The 34-year-old has been glued to the bench over the past 10 games since Birch arrived.

For all the uncertainties that this summer could bring for a franchise in transition, one thing’s for sure. The Raptors will not be picking up Baynes’ $7.3 million option.

Verdict: Pass

Rodney Hood

2021-22 Contract Status: $10.8 million, non-guaranteed

It’s been a year to forget for Hood, posting career lows in points, minutes, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage. Hood should be enjoying his prime years right now, but the 28-year-old has struggled since returning from an Achilles tear in 2019 and spent a full season with one team just once in the past four years, so stability has been elusive.

Truth be told, there probably wasn’t much short of superstar play that was going to keep Hood with Toronto beyond this season. Acquired in the Norman Powell deal at the trade deadline, the seven-year veteran’s inclusion was necessary for salary-matching purposes, as Trent was clearly the prize coming over from Portland.

It’s possible that some team will land Hood on an affordable contract and reap the benefits of a bounce-back year. But that next contract clearly won’t be worth eight figures, which is what the Raptors would be on the hook for if they guarantee his contract ($10.8 million, to be precise).

Nearly $11 million for a guy averaging 4.5 points on 36% shooting? No thanks. It’s sad to see how his career has fallen off of a cliff, but the Raptors need to move on.

Verdict: Pass