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Toronto Raptors: 4 free agents from eliminated playoff teams Raps could get

By Mike Luciano

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Nerlens Noel #3 of the New York Knicks in action against Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Nerlens Noel #3 of the New York Knicks in action against Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Nemanja Bjelica, Toronto Raptors
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 12: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Sacramento Kings (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

3. Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Miami Heat

The Heat tried anything and everything to get over the hump in the postseason, but their flurry of deadline moves didn’t bring with them a ton of success. Bjelica looked like a quality stretch power forward for them after wasting away in Sacramento, but he didn’t set the world on fire in South Beach.

Bjelica’s scoring dropped to just 6.5 points per game, and he made just 32% of his 3-point shots. For someone who had become one of the most underrated snipers in the game, this was a disappointing development. Even with that, Bjelica looks like a prime bounce-back candidate, and the Raptors could give him the chance to prove himself again.

Nemanja Bjelica could get back on track with the Toronto Raptors.

While he has the body of a power forward, the Raptors could use Bjelica as a small forward in bigger lineups off of the bench, potentially giving them two solid big shooters in the Serbian and Chris Boucher. With a 3-point percentage of at least 40% in each of the last three seasons before 2020-21, last year appears to be more of an outlier than a trend.

The Raptors will have money to spend, but they will always be on the hunt for some more economical deals. Bjelica isn’t the best athlete, but he has a reputation as a quality shooter, and that might be enough for the Raptors to consider bringing him in.