Best available free agents Raptors could end up signing with MLE

The Toronto Raptors did not waste any time accomplishing their main 2022 free agency goal. They knew that Thad Young and Chris Boucher had to return to Canada, and they took care of the former with a two-year, incentive-laden deal and the latter with a three-year contract.

Toronto is running out of roster spots, but they still have their entire $10 million mid-level exception left to use. Using this spot wisely could help the Raptors add one more impactful name that gives their bench another shot in the arm.

The Raptors saw some of their best options for this MLE fly off the board fairly quickly as free agency began, as names like Kyle Anderson and Gary Harris quickly left for Minnesota and resigned with Orlando, respectively. Even with those names gone, Toronto has plenty of options to choose from.

Masai Ujiri knows the power he wields with this MLE, and he will likely use it on a player who can come right in and provide the scoring pop this team needs. Any one of these three players coming to Toronto would be ideal for this roster at the moment.

Best available Toronto Raptors MLE targets

TJ Warren, Indiana Pacers

Warren is being eyed by several teams even though he is coming off a severe injury, as he averaged 19.3 points per game in a three-season span with the Suns and Pacers. Production even approaching those lofty heights would be quite the addition for a team who signs him using the MLE.

Warren would be an excellent scoring Sixth Man who can come right in and provide a nice dose of scoring pop off the bench. Even if he’s not an elite scorer post-injury, Toronto should feel confident about signing him.

Bryn Forbes, Denver Nuggets

Forbes might be a bit of a one-trick pony over the last few seasons, but that one trick was so effective that he will likely garner tons of interest on the open market. Toronto’s sore need for shooting has been well documented, and Forbes can be a big part of the solution.

Forbes nailed 43% of his 3-pointers over the last two years, years that were spent getting a championship with the Bucks and helping the Nuggets make it to the postseason. Toronto might be a bit concerned by the lack of stellar defense, but he could be the best shooter left on the market.

Donte DiVincenzo, Sacramento Kings

Take the inefficiency you saw in Sacramento and blur that out of your mind completely. Scoring 9.8 points and pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game proves DiVincenzo’s quality as a role player for a champion Bucks team. Toronto needs exactly his skillset off the bench right now.

Capable of handling the ball if the need arises and becoming a knockdown 3-point shooter, DiVincenzo is ready to once again hitch his wagon to a contending team who will still feed him a steady diet of shots. He might be the most realistic Toronto target.