Well, they did it. At long last, Raptors fans received clarity on the murky Bruno Fernando saga in Toronto, as the team waived him on the evening of January 6, just ahead of the following day's deadline that would have guaranteed his salary had it passed.
It's not a significant loss for Toronto, as they had limited use for Fernando to begin with. However, hats off to the 26-year-old for attempting to make the most of his situation. Hopefully, he can find a roster spot on a different NBA team that will better utilize his skill set.
Moving forward, waiving Fernando has improved the Raptors' roster flexibility. The main unit now consists of 14 players, allowing them to fill the spot in various ways.
The most likely path for Toronto is to give some 10-day contract opportunities to standout players from Raptors 905 or other G League talents to evaluate how they fit. Additionally, if the Raptors wish to convert one of their two-way contracts—AJ Lawson, Ulrich Chomche, or Jamison Battle—into a standard NBA contract, that would be another option.
Furthermore, with recent rumors about Toronto exploring the trade market for their veterans, the Raptors are in a position to execute more trade scenarios, potentially bringing in an additional player without needing to match contracts.
Those are the three most realistic pathways for Toronto. But what about the sneaky option that could pay off just as well? Why not explore the free agency market and give those still available a chance to prove themselves in the North?
Sure, the Raptors are rebuilding and seem to be losing endlessly, but that doesn’t mean the team should consist solely of young guns. Sometimes, you need veterans to help guide the way.
You might be wondering, are there still free agents available this late in the NBA season? Yes, as highlighted in our recent piece about the unfortunate situation of ex-Raptor Oshae Brissett, who is without an NBA job, the league can't accommodate everyone at once. However, as rosters waive talent throughout the year, opportunity can come knocking for these overlooked free agents.
Let’s explore three NBA-ready free agents who could bolster the young Raptors with veteran presence and leadership, while also addressing some of the gaps the team has faced recently.
Reggie Bullock
In his heyday, Reggie Bullock was a capable sharpshooter who could also defend effectively on the perimeter. He found NBA success as a journeyman, experiencing stints across the league. At 33 years old, Bullock is definitely on his way out of the league, but that doesn't mean he can't still get a shot in the latter stages of his career.
Fans last saw him in the NBA last season as a reserve for the Houston Rockets, but as recently as the late 2010s and early 2020s, Bullock was an effective starter, playing significant minutes on various NBA teams.
The time has clearly passed now in 2024, but here’s a player with a wealth of experience who can defend on the wings—something the Raptors desperately need—and can hit a deadly three-point shot, addressing another major shortcoming in the Raptors' offense.
Bullock is undoubtedly a notable veteran who could be brought in to test the waters and see what he still has left in the tank.
Robert Covington
We shift gears from one 3-and-D wing to another, arguably one of the underrated perimeter defenders of the late 2010s: Robert Covington, aka "RoCo."
In the NBA, stars often steal the spotlight, but it’s the unsung heroes who perform the little tasks that some stars may shy away from. Covington exemplifies this perfectly.
He may not have had the flashiest game, but playoff contenders around the league would eagerly covet Covington on their roster. That's precisely why he became such a valuable trade asset in the 2020s, switching teams four times during that era.
Like Bullock, Covington's once-storied identity has certainly plummeted with age and injuries. However, at his core, RoCo remains a defensive powerhouse who can still shoot the three-ball. You can't take that away from him, even if it's not as polished as in his prime years.
Last seen in the NBA with the Clippers and 76ers, Covington could greatly assist the struggling Raptors defensively by sharing his wisdom and experience with the younger players.
Lamar Stevens
While the notion of adding proven veterans like Reggie Bullock and Robert Covington feels like a blast from the past, it seems more probable that Toronto would pursue a player like Lamar Stevens—an older forward, but not necessarily a well-known NBA veteran.
An undrafted rookie from the 2020 NBA Draft, Stevens spent time with three franchises: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Memphis Grizzlies. He didn't necessarily break out during his NBA stints, but he had a notable extended run with the Grizzlies last season while they dealt with numerous injuries. During that time, Stevens performed quite solidly.
When analyzing Stevens' game, you see a switchable forward with good size and length who can guard the perimeter effectively and possesses a highly underrated mid-range game. It's essentially the prototypical player that the Raptors desire, especially considering Stevens struggles with shooting the three-ball.
It’s somewhat ironic to point this out, considering this is a list of top free agents and the gaps in Stevens' game might raise eyebrows. However, just look at the Raptors' recent track record of free agent acquisitions: DeAndre Bembry, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Juancho Hernangomez, Stanley Johnson, and so on. All of these players share similarities with Stevens, yet the Raptors were drawn to them for some reason. Here’s another hypothetical player of that archetype who could make his way to Toronto.
No hate toward Stevens, but it truly feels like a perfect match if the front office explores the free agent market for a new Raptor to bring on board.