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Toronto Raptors: 5 free agency targets to watch this postseason

By Jack Long

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers fights Gary Trent Jr. #33 and Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Toronto Raptors for the ball during the fourth quarter at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2021 in Tampa, Florida.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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers fights Gary Trent Jr. #33 and Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Toronto Raptors for the ball during the fourth quarter at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2021 in Tampa, Florida.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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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It’s been several years since the Toronto Raptors have missed the playoffs, but this season is steering to be their first in a while. While it will be strange to not have the boys from up North in the postseason mix, that doesn’t mean Raptors fans can’t have some fun scouting potential free agent targets.

The Raptors are set up for a big offseason, with a chunk of cap space opening up and their highest draft pick in a while on deck. Masai Ujiri isn’t one to sit on his hands and you know he will be busy come the beginning of the new league year.

Although it has thinned out a bit, this year’s free-agent class is one of the strongest we’ve seen in a while. With the Raptors in need of some rebounding, a dynamic backcourt gunner to replace Kyle Lowry, Ujiri won’t sit free agency out this season.

Here are 5 free agent targets Toronto Raptors fans can watch this postseason. If Ujiri identifies the right players, he could position the Raptors to make a run at them and complete his championship puzzle.

These 5 players could be Toronto Raptors free agent targets.

Los Angeles Lakers, Andre Drummond
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 13: Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

5. Andre Drummond

Drummond has been on the Raptors’ radar for a few seasons now, with the Raptors even making a run at him before they faded out of the playoff picture. The asking price was too rich for Ujiri though, and once bought out this season, he decided to go ring chasing with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Drummond is a stats machine, and while some people debate on how much he impacts a game considering what a poor defender and finisher he is, there is no denying he is one of the preeminent rebounders in the NBA, and Toronto could use that trait.

The Toronto Raptors could try and pull in their long-term target.

Before bringing in Khem Birch, the Raptors were an absolute disaster when it came to rebounding and they could still use some help. Drummond would be the perfect answer to that problem, especially if Birch decides to potentially leave Toronto.

Drummond isn’t the most versatile big man in the game, but a carousel of him, Birch and Chris Boucher is an enticing proposition. If the Raptors can plug their biggest hole in such emphatic fashion, they could turn around and make it to the postseason after their one season outside of the playoff picture.