The Toronto Raptors were going to be at the forefront of the NBA world on Friday night, and they certainly did not disappoint. On top of the fact they managed to retain some of their own players long-term, they also set the league on fire when they failed in their mission to bring back all of their big-name free agents.
Jakob Poeltl was one of the first names in free agency to come off the board, signing a very lucrative long-term deal that established him as a cornerstone of this franchise. Fred VanVleet was nearly retained with a long-term deal, but he chose to take a big payday in Houston.
Dennis Schroder, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, was also lured to Toronto after the VanVleet move in a deal that was accomplished by using up most of their MLE. With Gary Trent Jr. already discussing an extension, the Raptors have gone to work early on.
It goes without saying that this was one of the most chaotic and influential nights in Raptors franchise history, with some big moves that inevitably changed the dynamic of this franchise officially being consummated. How did Toronto fare in what became a genuinely game-changing evening?
Grading every Toronto Raptors free agency move on Day 1
Jakob Poeltl re-signs for 4-year, $80 million
This contract, like Masai Ujiri’s bold claim that Poeltl is one of the ten best centers in the league, seems outlandish until you dig deep and look at it closely. Poeltl was acquired for a steep price, but the Raptors did so believing they could lock up the Austrian big man long-term.
This contract is right on par with what Nikola Vucevic got from the Bulls. Poeltl is an equally skilled rebounder and is lightyears better on the defensive side of the ball. The advanced metrics show that Toronto was leaps and bounds better when Poeltl was on the floor.
The Toronto Raptors brought back Jakob Poeltl.
Poeltl will not fix the Raptors’ issues by himself, but he will go a long way when it comes to ensuring that Toronto remains a high-end defensive team. Precious Achiuwa struggled as a full-time center, and Christian Koloko is simply not ready for a starting spotyet.
Poeltl’s defensive wizardry and efficient play was often hidden under a vast canopy of losses on a tanking Spurs team. Those skeptical of his deal can easily be proven wrong if he starts playing as well as he did during the beginning of his second stint in Toronto.
Grade: A-
Raptors let Fred VanVleet join Rockets with 3-year, $130 million deal
What do Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, and Anthony Davis all have in common? They all have a lower average annual value on their current contracts than VanVleet, who got a max deal from a Rockets team who needed to spend money. Only Steph Curry makes more per year as a point guard.
Houston needed to spend some money while also bringing in a star that can help lead what is a very young group of core players. Given VanVleet’s championship pedigree and his defensive skills, he should be of service to Ime Udoka and his revitalization project in Houston.
The Toronto Raptors let Fred VanVleet go.
The Raptors may have wanted VanVleet back, and there were certain advantages that would come with bringing him back, but there’s no way Toronto could have avoided the luxury tax and built a competitive team while giving VanVleet the GDP of a small island nation.
At the end of the day, VanVleet is an injury-prone player who was going to command an irresponsible amount of money to retain, all while obstructing the growth of Scottie Barnes. VanVleet’s legacy as a Raptor is still quite strong, but the time for a departure was here.
Grade: A-
Raptors sign Dennis Schroder to two-year, $26 million deal
Wasting no time on finding a replacement for VanVleet, Schroder was brought in on a two-year deal worth $26 million. Schroder will either be the team’s Sixth Man if Scottie Barnes becomes the point guard or the starting point guard that steps in to replace VanVleet.
Schroder may not be the same Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner he was with the Hawks and Thunder, but his most recent season with the Lakers showed that he is still a damn fine point guard who can score at the rim and make some impressive plays on both ends of the floor.
Dennis Schroder replaced Fred VanVleet with the Toronto Raptors.
This deal is not perfect, however. Schroder has seen his offensive production decline in the last few seasons, and he might not be the best starter for a team with a brand new head coach that needs experience in the backcourt as they push for the playoffs. Schroder will need to defer to the stars on the team.
Schroder can be a very volatile player, as he’ll look like an unguardable dynamo one night and appear to be a G League player that got a lucky call-up the next. Perhaps a very limited, defined role will help coax more elite production out of him.
Grade: B