The Toronto Raptors are just a few weeks away from what promises to be one of the most impactful offseasons in team history, as they have multiple big names hitting the market and a ton of fairly obvious needs the team needs to get ironed out relatively soon.
After last season, where the Raptors signed Otto Porter Jr. and called it a day, more impactful additions and retentions are needed. After declining to the point where they only won 41 games last season, Toronto knows that they need to ace it as soon as the starting gun goes off.
The Raptors are in a unique spot, as many of their best players are also positioned to hit the market. With their decision on contending or rebuilding in the next few years still very much up in the air, the Raptors and their fanbase need to have these important dates circled.
Today's The Hoop Collective with @WindhorstESPN and @TimBontemps features discussion about the Celtics trying to pull off a historic comeback and delves into which lottery picks might be available in the trade market: https://t.co/LvsSwNlbnc
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 26, 2023
When does NBA Free Agency Start?
While free agency will officially begin on July 6, the whole free agency process will actually begin on June 30, when teams can negotiate deals with free agents and make efforts to retain their best players. Deals could be hammered out in this period for the Raptors.
Player options decisions have to be finalized by June 29, which is one day before the negotiation period starts. Both Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. are expected to come out and decline their player options as part of their plan to maximize value and cash in.
Which Raptors players will be free agents?
VanVleet and Trent will likely hit the open market, as both of them can decline player options in search of bigger contracts. Jakob Poeltl is also going to be a free agent, but all signs point to him returning to the club at some point on a long-term contract.
Which NBA players will be free agents in 2023?
If you want a more complete list of free agents, Spotrac has a comprehensive list. Names like James Harden and Kyrie Irving are not coming to the Raptors, barring an act of God, but both of them will likely have teams interested in their services for the next few seasons.