The 3 most underpaid Toronto Raptors in the 2023-24 season
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors are entering what could be a very uneasy financial period. With many for their big names slated to hit free agency or suck up most of Toronto’s cap room, Masai Ujiri must be very careful with how he approaches the next few years with regard to the team’s cap sheet.
The Raptors have generally done a fair job when it comes to identifying talent and paying them at a level adequate with what the market demands. With MLSE also looking to cut costs wherever possible at all times, Toronto has been forced to go bargain hunting.
Via trading for players on rookie contracts and managing to scour the free agent market for relatively cheaper deals, many of Toronto’s rotation mainstays are on very affordable contracts. The money that would have been allocated to Fred VanVleet can now be dispersed over the rest of the roster.
These three Raptors players stand out as the most underpaid on the current roster. Don’t be surprised if they go up to Ujiri and Bobby Webster after the season and ask for a pay bump, as one uptick in production will be enough for them to ask for a serious raise.
3 most underpaid Toronto Raptors players.
3. Precious Achiuwa ($4.3 million)
Achiuwa is going into his third straight season of unfettered hype and speculation of what he could be if he hits his ceiling. Even with all of the maddening frustrations that he brings to the table, Achiuwa has shown to be a unique chess piece Nick Nurse moved around the board.
Achiuwa provides boundless athleticism for a 6-8 big man while also showing off some lethal defensive skills. Even at such a young age, he can defend multiple positions at a high level and effectively crash the glass to secure rebounds. The next step is on the offensive end.
Precious Achiuwa is important to the Toronto Raptors.
Achiuwa has shown he can be a damn good 3-point shooter when he’s hot, but his streakiness from deep borders on comical. The same can be said of his finishing around the rim, as he is still prone to charging in like a bat out of hell and missing some easy shots.
Achiuwa’s appeal always lay in the fact that he was an unknown box of tools worth developing. While he is starting to lose that status, Achiuwa has shown that he is better than a $4 million player. It would be a shock at this stage if he does not earn a second contract with the Raptors.