The Toronto Raptors are likely well aware of the fact that they won’t be able to compete for a championship if they keep their team together as currently constructed. As such, the 2023 offseason promises to be one of the biggest in recent memory for the squad.
The Raptors have their eye fixed firmly on the Western Conference postseason right now, likely looking for prospective free agents that could make the jump to Toronto if Masai Ujiri writes a big enough check. That doesn’t mean that the Raptors should look away from the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of glory.
The Raptors’ needs are as clearly defined as any team in the league. The shooting is bad, the guard depth is unacceptable, and the on-ball creation could improve. If any one player checks one of those boxes (or, preferably, all of them), Ujiri will get on the phone with their agent.
These three Eastern free agents will be floating out there in the aether when their season ends, making them perfect candidates for the Raptors to snatch up and pump up as they try to somehow get back on the right track in the near future.
Toronto Raptors free agency: 3 Eastern playoff names to target
3. Max Strus, Miami Heat
Strus may be a one-trick pony to some who won’t be a valuable defensive player, but the Raptors’ need for shooting is so strong that they should at least consider trying to pull the 6-5 sniper away from the Heat. Strus is streaky, but he can’t miss when he is clicking from deep.
Strus has averaged 11.1 points per game while averaging 38% from 3-point range. While Will Barton failed to be the shooter this team needed, Strus profiles as a player that come right in and be an immediate impact player that improves as time goes on.
Toronto Raptors free agency: Max Strus could help with shooting.
The fear that Toronto would likely have in paying Strus is the idea that he could turn into a Duncan Robinson albatross due to his inability to develop a more well-rounded game. If Nick Nurse, who turned Gary Trent Jr. into a rock-solid defender, stays around, Strus might be able to take a step forward on that end.
If nothing else, Toronto is going to get a microwave bench scorer with postseason and Finals experience. In a league where players like that are getting insane money, Strus is a relatively economical option that can slot right into the Raptors’ bench as soon as he puts pen to paper.
2. Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeVert’s role as one of the chief creators for the Cavs was quickly errata’d by the addition of Donovan Mitchell. If LeVert wants to earn a prominent offensive role on a team that has eyes on the postseason, he could be a cheaper Gary Trent Jr. replacement who could slide right into Toronto.
LeVert averaged just 12.4 points per game with the Cavaliers, but he was averaging just under 20 points per game in his prior tenure with the Indiana Pacers. If he can get back to a level even approximating that, LeVert could be a lethal player for the Raptors.
Toronto Raptors free agency: Caris LeVert could be a stud.
LeVert’s role with Toronto may not sound expanded, but they would essentially give him near free reign over the bench and play him heavy minutes. Is it unreasonable to suggest that LeVert as the first man off the bench could be a Sixth Man of the Year contender?
The college point guard has already shown the ability to handle the ball and fill up the stat sheet at the professional level, so his ability to be a multifaceted leader for that group will not be in question. Still in his prime, the Raptors could get some of the best seasons of LeVert’s career out of this hypothetical deal.
1. Cameron Johnson
While the Nets will likely do everything needed to retain Johnson, a restricted free agent that the team acquired in the Kevin Durant deal, signing him might take them very close to the second luxury tax threshold. They would incur more penalties for them being at that point in consecutive seasons. Could more teams get involved as a result?
Johnson has averaged 13.6 points per game in the last two seasons while drilling a ridiculous 41.6% of his 3-pointers. While he will be a bit old for his first big contract at 27 years old, that should only make Toronto more interested in him as a high-end shooter.
Toronto Raptors free agency: Cameron Johnson is a high-end target
Johnson would be everything this Raptors team needs, even though he is another 6-8 forward. An excellent shooter with improved offensive creation with postseason experience, and a proven ability to be a success on offense without dominating the ball, Johnson looks like an ideal fit.
While very unlikely to pull off, there are certainly worse avenues for Toronto to saunter down this offseason. If nothing else, they can handicap a division rival by signing Johnson to an offer sheet so outrageous that it puts Brooklyn even further into the luxury tax.