1. Pat Connaughton, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
Connaughton has a player option with just under $6 million, but he would be doing himself a significant financial disservice if he doesn’t test the free-agent market. Toronto is crying out for a player that can come right in be an impact player off of the bench behind Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby.
Connaughton averaged a career-high 9.9 points per game. Connaughton’s volume of 3-point shots increased to nearly six 3-pointers per game, connecting on 39.5% of those shots. A top-shelf athlete who can attack the rim if needed, Connaughton will succeed where Svi Mykhailiuk failed.
Pat Connaughton could join the Toronto Raptors.
Connaughton might be considered a bit of a one-year wonder by pessimists who will point to his general lack of gaudy scoring numbers before this year. However, optimists will claim that Connaughton was not given a very healthy diet of shots on such a deep Milwaukee roster.
Connaughton will turn 30 next season, but this might actually benefit the Raptors. They could get a quality bench scorer with solid athletic traits that is not going to break the bank or hang on their salary cap for several years. Connaughton could be interested in a role as one of the first men off the bench north of the border.