The Toronto Raptors need to make some huge additions to the bedrock of this team, as they have enough cap space to pull off some moves that could get them back to the postseason after a year in the lottery due to their bad luck.
The Raptors were able to become one of the more consistent winners over the last decade because of how Masai Ujiri was able to supplement the schemes of Dwane Casey and Nick Nurse by making some robust signings in free agency. The Raptors have been a well-oiled machine on the back of that philosophy.
The Raptors should absolutely try to add players that could be a fit with what Nurse wants to do, even if their production may not necessarily make them the hottest ticket on the market. It wouldn’t be the first time Toronto beefed up their rotation by adopting this idea over the last few years.
If the Raptors identify 3 players that have these very specific skillsets, they could be ideal fits north of the border, making them integral parts of the Raptors’ rotation for the next few seasons.
The Toronto Raptors need to targets players with these 3 styles.
3. A forward with defensive versatility.
One of the more impressive feathers in the Raptors’ cap over the last couple of years has been their forward combination, as the combination of OG Anunoby shutting down the opponent’s best player and Pascal Siakam using his athletic ability to become one of the best two-way power forwards in the game.
However, Siakam will miss the next five months due to surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. The Raptors need to make a new addition in order to make sure Siakam’s injury doesn’t sink them in the first part of the season, and they need to make sure they add someone who won’t be a liability on defense.
Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has undergone surgery on his torn labrum. He’s expected to miss five months. pic.twitter.com/sgwsXsEgz8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 11, 2021
The Toronto Raptors need to add a solid defender.
The likes of Paul Millsap, a veteran defender with enough offensive skill to make him somewhat formidable, could make sense. Kelly Olynyk was never an unstoppable defender in his career, but his brief time in Houston showed that if Siakam is out for a long time, he could give them stability in the starting lineup.
The Raptors experimented with a smaller lineup at times this season, and it was enough to give them the short-term pop they needed to pull off a few wins before COVID-19 shut them down. Even if it’s just a cheap one-year deal, a bench player that can give the Raptors interior stability would do wonders.