3 cheap free agents Raptors may sign after Armoni Brooks release
By Mike Luciano
Just when it looked like the Toronto Raptors had finally put the finishing touches on their offseason plans after completing the signing of the NBA’s resident Laurence Olivier in Juancho Hernangomez, the Armoni Brooks news dump has left them with one more open spot.
Brooks was waived in a move that looks a little less shocking when you realize that he had a six-figure guarantee that would be handed over on August 1. While Brooks will likely land on his feet elsewhere, that doesn’t negate the fact that Toronto still has a hole on the roster.
Toronto will likely add a guard in the coming weeks that will compete with Dalano Banton for one of the final spots on the roster. Toronto invests a ton of time and energy into ensuring that the back end of the roster is robust, which could prompt a very interesting move.
Any one of these three free agents could come to the Raptors as a replacement for Brooks. While the former Houston Rockets backcourt sniper saw his brief tenure in Toronto cut short, one of these three could potentially have a longer Raptors career.
Toronto Raptors: 3 free agents to sign after Armoni Brooks waive.
3. PG Ryan Arcidiacono
Arciadiacono was one of many Villanova point guards who filled that “6-2 guard who can shoot from deep and stays in school all four years” mold under Jay Wright (Donte DiVincenzo came before, Collin Gillespie soon followed him). Despite any sort of defensive prowess, Arcidiacono has evolved into a respectable NBA player.
After spending four seasons with the Bulls as a backup, Arcidiacono spent last season receiving a handful of minutes with the Knicks. A career 37% 3-point shooter who was a surprisingly effective distributor, Arcidiacono might wiggle onto Toronto’s roster.
Ryan Arcidiacono could join the Toronto Raptors.
Arcidiacono doesn’t have a playing style that is too dissimilar from Brooks, though he is more of a natural fit at point guard. If Ujiri wants to get someone with Brooks’ style of play to push Banton, he could certainly do worse than a five-year veteran like Arcidiacono.
It’s a slight surprise that the former Wildcat has remained unsigned for such a long time, considering the numbers he has put up in the NBA. Toronto could stand to add more shooting, even in a minimal capacity. Don’t rule this move out now that Brooks is gone.