The Toronto Raptors hit free agency hard in the early stages, acquiring Dennis Schroder following the departure of Fred VanVleet and using some leftover cash for Jalen McDaniels. They also spent a good chunk of their available cap space to ensure an old friend stayed in town in the future.
Jakob Poeltl, a former Top 10 pick by the Raptors and Kawhi Leonard trade chip, was acquired via trade and re-signed to a four-year, $80 million contract that pays him like an elite center. With Delon Wright in the rumor mill, the idea of bringing back some former players might appeal to Masai Ujiri.
Under Ujiri, the Raptors have developed a very rigid style of play (for better or worse). Who better to slot into one of those open roster spots than someone who has already been in Toronto, even for a very brief period? The free agent market is still littered with former Raptors.
Be them key role players on a championship team, veterans looking to latch on to one last team, or youngsters that want to get back to Toronto’s developmental system, these three former Raptors are still on the open market, waiting for that one phone call from Masai Ujiri.
3 former Toronto Raptors still available in free agency.
3. Saben Lee
Lee may have never played a game for the Raptors, but he was one of the focal points of Toronto’s G League team for quite some time. After failing to realize his potential, the Raptors lost Lee to the Suns and had to watch him emerge as a viable backup point guard in the pros.
Lee, a former Pistons pick, averaged 6.3 points and 2.8 assists per game. Despite the fact that he is still very young and has more NBA experience than most end-of-the-bench guards fighting for Summer League spots, Lee remains unattached to a particular team right now.
Saben Lee could return to the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors can either continue to bang their head against the Malachi Flynn wall or hope that Jeff Dowtin is still the same player following his ankle issues. If they have fallen in love with one of them or two-way standout Markquis Nowell, Lee’s size enables him to move to off-ball guard.
Lee is not going to move the needle, but the Raptors’ poor Summer League start shows that none of the players in that group outside of Dick will be expected to play a role in the team’s rotation next season. Why not fill out the end of the bench with someone that has a solid history of scoring in the pros?