The Toronto Raptors’ future will be irrevocably changed in the next few days, as the start of a very busy 2023 free agency period brings with it tons of questions related to which players the Raptors will prioritize and Masai Ujiri’s ability to execute on his vision.
Toronto may have seen Gary Trent Jr. opt into the final year of his contract, but Jakob Poeltl and Fred VanVleet are still up in the air. While there are rumors that Poeltl could come back to Toronto, VanVleet’s status is less certain due to the collection of robust offers out there.
The Raptors can’t afford to be lazy or start slow in this period. They need to put the pedal to the metal and make sure that they can accomplish the tasks they themselves have laid out for themselves. In a competitive Eastern Conference, any sort of slip-up could be a huge problem.
When the clock strikes 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, the Raptors need to make sure that all three of these boxes end up getting checked. The Raptors have had some turbulent times in the last few years, but they can all be fixed with a solid free agency period.
3 things the Toronto Raptors must do in free agency.
3. Identify Fred VanVleet replacements
The Raptors will likely try to find some way to keep VanVleet, even with all of the associated pitfalls that could come with handing out such a ridiculous contract. If they don’t land him, which is entirely possible due to teams like the Rockets pursuing him, they need to find a backup plan as soon as possible.
One player that makes a ton of sense for Toronto is Gabe Vincent, the former Miami Heat guard who has shown he can produce in the postseason. Toronto appears to have some degree of interest in signing a player like Vincent if they are unable to keep VanVleet in Toronto.
Will the Toronto Raptors replace Fred VanVleet?
One player that makes a ton of sense from a schematic point of view is former Warriors guard and Knicks target Donte DiVincenzo. However, in a thin guard market, the Raptors will need to come out swinging with a very attractive offer if they want any hope of bringing him up north.
The Raptors are in a challenging situation. VanVleet is a very flawed player that is aging, but this free agent class lacks high-end replacements for him that simultaneously believe the world is round. If he leaves, Ujiri must look for a one-year stopgap before eventually finding a more permanent replacement.
2. Trade Chris Boucher or Otto Porter Jr.
The Raptors have thrown out some leaks in the last few days hinting that the bench could be a prime target for deconstruction. To fund the potential signings of Poeltl and VanVleet, Ujiri sounds willing to make a trade or two to part with some of their more expensive bench players.
With Precious Achiuwa continuing to get better and Gradey Dick firmly installed as a Sixth Man, the two most logical trade chips are Boucher and Porter. Both are veterans who did not play as well as someone with their salary was expected to perform, and both could be solid fits for contenders.
Will the Toronto Raptors trade Chris Boucher or Otto Porter Jr?
A healthy Porter played a very important role on a champion Warriors team, so he could have more value than most expected. Boucher, on the other hand, has started to flatline. Why would the Raptors keep trying to turn him around when they could get a pick and low-end player back in return?
Both Boucher and Porter could net a solid return for what they are, with Boucher likely netting a more prized asset due to his injury history (or lack thereof). It will be hard to envision a Darko Rajakovic rotation with both of these two older forwards alongside one another.
1. Sign Jakob Poeltl
The VanVleet hypothetical signing has been one of the most hotly debated topics in recent memory on Raptors Twitter, and with good reason. One scenario that has not provoked the same level of stimulating debate is Poeltl returning, as many view this as a foregone conclusion.
Poeltl not only cost multiple premium draft picks when the team acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs, but he made them one of the best defensive teams in the game when he was on the floor. The Raptors’ need for a rim-protecting center, the equity they sunk into Poeltl, and his own performance make a no-doubt case for retention.
The Toronto Raptors must retain Jakob Poeltl.
Ujiri thinks very highly of Poeltl, as he said that he views the Austrian giant as one of the top 10 at his position in the league. While Poeltl isn’t the gaudiest scorer, his rebounding and defense make that statement more reasonable than it appears at first glance.
Losing Poeltl would make the trade with San Antonio one of the worst moves in recent memory for the Raptors, all while robbing them of a viable starting center. VanVleet is important, but Toronto can’t let Poeltl walk away from them despite a somewhat competitive market.