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.
2. SG Josh Jackson
Jackson hasn’t had the typical journey for a top recruit who was picked No. 4 overall in the NBA Draft. While he has always been a promising athlete, Jackson has never really found a permanent home in the NBA due to his inability to be a consistent threat as a shooter.
After it looked like he turned a corner and averaged 13.4 points per game with the Pistons in 2020-21, Jackson regressed to just 6.4 points per game between Detroit and Sacramento. He remains unsigned despite his bouncy 6-8 frame after shooting an even 40% last season.
Josh Jackson might give the Toronto Raptors some value.
Nick Nurse has never been shy about taking on players who are deficient as shooters if it means that he can add a top-shelf athlete who fits in with Toronto’s emphasis on versatility. Jackson can still attack the basket, and that might be enough to earn a spot on the final roster.
Precious Achiuwa went from shooting just one 3-pointer in Miami to becoming a legitimate threat from that range. Jackson could be in line for a similar uptick in performance. If he doesn’t work out, a hypothetical non-guaranteed deal will leave Toronto on the hook for nothing.
1. SG Jarrett Culver
Culver is a firm patron at Last Chance Saloon right now, as he currently stands as one of the worst draft picks of the last half-decade. After just three seasons, Culver has already been traded by the Timberwolves and cast aside by a Grizzlies team that is moving on without him.
Culver is not only a 40% shooter who saw his 3-point skill go down the drain, but he has missed more free throws than he’s made in the NBA. This will be a considerable reclamation project, but the odds of him beating out a player like Hernangomez or DJ Wilson isn’t the craziest thing in the world.
Jarrett Culver could bounce back with the Toronto Raptors.
At this point in his career, Culver is a complete lottery ticket, but Toronto has been a team willing to build a guy back up from nothing. The player we saw at Texas Tech is someone that could end up contributing to a winner, and Toronto has enough patience to work with him.
Lottery picks will always be given another chance if a rival team is in a good mood, and Culver is certainly no exception to this rule. Stashed away on the Raptors bench, the squad’s developmental team can get to work on figuring out what went wrong in Minnesota.