Toronto Raptors free agency: 3 Atlantic Division free agents to chase

1. Nerlens Noel, C, New York Knicks

We have stated in the past that Khem Birch should be the priority at the center position for the Raptors, but if they want to find a new starter at this position without paying a ton of money in order to solve that problem, Noel is without question the best option for Toronto.

Noel’s defensive impact might be a tad overstated considering how good his New York Knicks were on that end, but the fact that Noel was the only player in the league to average one steal and two blocks per game speaks to how he can impact the game on that end.

Nerlens Noel could be the perfect center for the Toronto Raptors.

Noel doesn’t need to be prime Chris Bosh. All the Raptors would need him to do is finish easy shots at the rim, make crisp passes that keep the ball moving on the offensive end of things, and secure the rim with some of his thunderous blocks.

Even though he can do all of those things, he won’t come with a hefty price tag. Birch should be the main goal given the huge improvement that he made on offense, but if he is unavailable, look for Noel to get some looks from Toronto.