Raptors free agency: 3 Fred VanVleet replacements to do homework on

1. D’Angelo Russell

This is the best option for the Raptors if they want to add a high-volume scorer that can light it up from 3-point range while paying slightly less than whatever VanVleet would end up costing. Russell, recently traded to the Lakers, can be a lethal scorer in the right system.

Russell, who is going to turn 27 tomorrow, is in the prime of his career. Since his All-Star season with the Nets, the 6-5 guard has averaged just under 20 points per game despite often sharing the floor with high-volume offensive players. With nearly seven assists per game in that span and career-high efficiency this season, Russell is hitting his stride.

Can the Toronto Raptors bring in D’Angelo Russell?

While he’s not a very good defender right now, the same infrastructure that managed to turn Trent from one of the worst on that end in the league to a legitimate weapon that is going to cash in during the offseason might be able to get Russell in order on that end.

Russell could have been a high-end trade target for Toronto, but they let the Lakers beat them to the punch. Replacing VanVleet’s scoring will be tough, but Russell is one of the few who will be able to do that without constantly stepping on Barnes’ toes on offense.