Whether or not the Toronto Raptors can make a successful late surge for a play-in spot, the coming off-season promises to be a big one. A shift in direction awaits, with a decision on unrestricted free agent Kyle Lowry’s future and a new contract for Gary Trent Jr. forthcoming, to say nothing of the future of president Masai Ujiri.
Not to be overlooked amidst some of the bigger items to be resolved, however, is the status of a number of players under some form of team control, as several
Now that the club has rewarded both Yuta Watanabe and Freddie Gillespie with standard, albeit non-guaranteed, NBA contracts, there are six Raptors who enter the 2021-22 season on non-guaranteed deals or holding team options.
Here, Toronto’s front office holds all the cards. In what has been an underwhelming season, chances are the organization doesn’t wish to essentially run it back by retaining all of these players. So, then, whose contracts are worth picking up? And whose are best left cutting loose?
Let’s play some ‘Pass or Cash’!
Which Toronto Raptors players will stay, and which will go?
Yuta Watanabe
2021-22 Contract Status: $1.76 million, non-guaranteed
Early this season, the NBA announced that two-way players could remain on a team’s roster for the duration of the campaign without being converted, contrary to rules in normal, non-pandemic times.
That meant that Watanabe’s contract extension served no benefit to the Raptors from a roster management standpoint, but they still felt as though he needed a reward for his services.
Of course, it could ultimately prove little more than a meaningless, feel-good moment if the club opts to cut ties with the 26-year-old before any guaranteed money kicks in. This scenario is highly unlikely, as the high-energy, 3-point shooting forward has carved out a role and impressed many within the organization.
Yuta Watanabe clapping after that made 3-pointer from the corner made me very happy. Why?? I'm not sure.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) April 28, 2021
It's Yuta.
From a brand value standpoint, it’s worth noting that Watanabe will probably be worth his $1.76 million contract in jersey sales, alone. His cultural and marketing impact in Japan is part of the reason why the Raptors timed his contract announcement to cater to Japanese fans.
Regardless, expect Watanabe to be back as a key contributor to a hopefully upgraded bench unit next season. There is no way he should be in another jersey next year.
Verdict: Cash
Freddie Gillespie
2021-22 Contract Status: $1.5 million, non-guaranteed
The 2020-21 salaries of Aron Baynes and Alex Len amounted to approximately $9.2 million, or roughly 17 times the combined total cap hit (about $540k) of their front-court replacements in Gillespie and Khem Birch. Even apart from the savings, however, Gillespie and Birch have been a breath of fresh air for the big man-starved franchise.
While Birch is an unrestricted free agent who Toronto would surely love to have back, Gillespie has been the true revelation. Finally getting his NBA shot, the 23-year-old, had he qualified, would’ve ranked second among rookies in blocks behind Isaiah Stewart, and has proven effective as a more traditional, low post big man.
Gillespie’s steady production and consistent play may not blow anyone away (apart from his five-block effort against Brooklyn), but the Raps have witnessed first-hand how hard it is to compete without reliable play in the frontcourt.
At $1.5 million, he represents precisely the kind of young player worth taking a flyer on, especially for a team that may be approaching a rebuilding season.
Gillespie also gets points for being super into his rookie hazing performance of “Party in the USA”. He’s got to be back after that.
Verdict: Cash
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
DeAndre’ Bembry
2021-22 Contract Status: $1.977 million, non-guaranteed
If Watanabe was a win and Baynes and Len were flops among the Raptors’ off-season additions, then Bembry has basically amounted to a shrug. Signed to a two-year, $3.7 million contract with a non-guaranteed second year, Bembry has come over from the Atlanta Hawks as advertised; a decent defensive role player with a shaky shot and minimal offense.
It’s not sexy or exciting, but Bembry’s modest contributions might still make him worth picking up the $1.977 million second-year option.
Even a rebuilding Raptors team will need bodies to fill out the roster, and a defensively sound reserve who seems to be a solid teammate might be a decent guy to have around, especially on a relatively cheap contract.
Verdict: Cash
Paul Watson Jr.
2021-22 Contract Status: $1.7 million, non-guaranteed
The latest in a long line of players with cult followings who some fans believe should be playing more (call them the “Bruno Caboclo All-Stars”), Watson enjoyed his moment in the sun a few weeks ago against Orlando. Making his first career start, the 26-year-old wowed with a career-best 30 points on 10-13 shooting.
The fact that Watson followed up his career night with an 0-for-10 goose egg two nights later against Oklahoma City and then was sidelined with knee tendinitis highlights how he remains inconsistent and largely unreliable. This would be less problematic if the former Fresno State star was, say, 23 rather than 26.
Watanabe and Bembry are the same age as Watson, but both men have showcased an above-average NBA skill (three-point shooting and versatile defensive play for Watanabe, perimeter defense for Bembry) that they consistently deploy. Watson still carries some upside, but one standout game shouldn’t guarantee anything for next year.
Verdict: Pass
The Toronto Raptors go into next season with just five guaranteed contracts on the books (Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, and Chris Boucher). Those remaining 10 roster spots will surely be occupied by some free agent additions, possible re-signings (looking at you, Birch and Trent), and a draft pick.