The Toronto Raptors have enough financial flexibility and roster space to chase one more impactful name in free agency. With the starting point guard question still unanswered, could the Raptors be in the market for Chicago Bulls restricted free agent Ayo Dosunmu?
Dosunmu, who has been linked to the Raptors in the past, remains one of the few free agents still on the market that could theoretically be an impactful rotation player. The Bulls have shown that they are willing to retain many of their big hitters, but Dosunmu could be one important name that could bolt if the offer sheet is too expensive.
The Raptors appear to be willing to let Scottie Barnes take the starting point guard spot while Dennis Schroder leads the team’s bench as a high-priced Sixth Man. Adding Dosunmu might seem like an extra bit of confusion, but his talent could supersede the concerns about his fit.
The Raptors should at least consider signing Dosunmu to an offer sheet, putting the pressure on the Bulls. If they end up not matching, it stands to reason that the 23-year-old Dosunmu could be an immediate rotation player on a Raptors team leaning fully into their youth movement.
Another offseason notebook @YahooSports features the restricted free agent market, with special appearances from Charlotte, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and more: https://t.co/leUxklRbjw
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 5, 2023
Will the Toronto Raptors make a run at Ayo Dosunmu?
Dosunmu’s career averages of 8.6 points and 2.6 assists per game as both a starter and top reserve helped the Bulls field some competitive teams after their Lonzo Ball investment went belly-up. At 6-5 with some quality short-area quickness and impressive defensive skills, Dosunmu was built in a lab trying to create the ideal Raptor.
If the Raptors move off Chris Boucher or Otto Porter Jr. before getting Dosunmu, the bench could start to take shape. Schroder, Dosunmu, and rookie sensation Gradey Dick would make up a dynamic backcourt, while Precious Achiuwa and Jalen McDaniels hold their own in the frontcourt.
The concerns surrounding Dosunmu stem from his 3-point shooting, as it fell from 37% as a rookie to 31% last year on identical volume. Bringing him in would also make it very difficult for Toronto to have any sort of flexibility from a financial point of view, which Masai Ujiri and the front office have always prioritized.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1605914803972734977
Dosunmu is quite a risky investment, and bringing him in would likely mean that one of the players already on the roster would need to vacate their spot via some sort of trade, but the high end of what he could become should be enticing enough for a Raptors team that is always looking for an edge.