Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Good, Better Best: 3 ways for Raptors to fill final roster spot

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 19: Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors attends the 2020 Audi Innovation Series on June 19, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for Audi Innovation Series)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 19: Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors attends the 2020 Audi Innovation Series on June 19, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for Audi Innovation Series) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
DJ Wilson, Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 28: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers is guarded by D.J. Wilson #9 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors may have swapped out Goran Dragic for Thad Young in the name of financial flexibility, but that move didn’t help Masai Ujiri address the lack of an open roster spot. With Dragic off of the books, the Raptors have more freedom to finally change that.

Toronto has a lack of guard depth that could come back to bite them. It’s already starting to take chunks out of the rotation, as Fred VanVleet has already missed some games thanks to his knee soreness. The center rotation could stand to improve as well considering the inconsistency.

The Raptors will try to make a somewhat economical addition to the roster to maintain cap flexibility for the summer. Be that via an internal promotion or addition from outside the club, Ujiri needs to make sure he reinforces the bench as much as possible in the coming days.

The Raptors are not exactly short on options when it comes to ways to fill out the roster, as dozens of players could theoretically fit a team that is trying everything they can to make it to the postseason. Which path should Ujiri send the Raptors down in free agency?

Should the Toronto Raptors add one of these players?

Good: Sign DJ Wilson

Wilson was originally brought on as a COVID-19 replacement, but he was brought back on another 10-day contract for the purposes of getting an extended look at him. Now that he’s returned to Oklahoma City’s G League team, Wilson could be snatched up by the Raptors once again.

Could Wilson be on his way back? While they have plenty of big men on the roster, Ujiri is never one to neglect adding a young, athletic big. Wilson looked the part on defense while showing off the finishing that made him such a coveted prospect during his days at Michigan.

The Toronto Raptors may bring DJ Wilson back.

Unfortunately for Wilson, Toronto may look to add a better shooter with that final spot. Precious Achiuwa continues to rebound and defend, Chris Boucher is the team’s Sixth Man, and Khem Birch is starting to get back on track on the offensive end. Would a fifth center help that much?

A former first-round pick who was never given a consistent diet of minutes in Milwaukee or Houston, Wilson showed that he should be on an NBA roster in some form or fashion. It remains to be seen if that chance comes with the Raptors given how the rest of the roster has been playing.