With each passing year in the NBA, the talent pool expands as a multitude of draft prospects make their way into the league. However, despite the presence of 30 teams, not all players can be accommodated, leaving some opportunities unfulfilled.
At the conclusion of each offseason, a long list of basketball players remains available in the open market. Some choose to wait patiently for an opportunity to knock on their door, others earn a chance to reclaim their NBA status in the G League, while some pack their bags to showcase their talents on the international stage.
Unfortunately, as we enter the new calendar year, these former Raptors players find themselves without NBA jobs.
Let's explore who they are and why their opportunities in the league have seemingly slipped away.
Bismack Biyombo
The Cameroonian big man spent a lone season with the Raptors, but it was quite the memorable one, as he established himself as an unsung hero in Toronto's 2016 playoff run.
He last played for the Oklahoma City Thunder toward the end of the 2023-24 regular season, as the team was struggling to secure much-needed depth at the center position.
Biyombo, now 32, is on the older side and has faced some concerning health issues in recent years. Therefore, it's not surprising that he is not on an NBA roster in 2025. Don't be surprised if he announces his retirement in the near future.
Thaddeus Young
Arriving in Toronto toward the end of his NBA career, Thaddeus Young spent three seasons with the Raptors, demonstrating his value as a quality locker room presence and a savvy veteran.
The Raptors decided to part ways with the NBA journeyman at last year's trade deadline, sending him to the Nets. He was subsequently waived and went on to finish the 2023-24 season with the Phoenix Suns.
Perhaps Thad Young could be brought in to strengthen the veteran presence of a playoff team; however, if that were the case, he would likely have been signed by now. He is another candidate nearing potential retirement, so it seems his time in the NBA is coming to an end. Nonetheless, his longevity in the league deserves a tip of the hat.
Jalen McDaniels
Without a doubt, one of the least effective players in the Raptors' rotation in recent years was 26-year-old forward Jalen McDaniels.
As the brother of Timberwolves defensive standout Jaden McDaniels, the older McDaniels found his way to Toronto after signing a multi-year contract in the 2023 offseason. However, his tenure with the Raptors was far from stellar, as previously noted, and his contract would ultimately be used to acquire Davion Mitchell from the Sacramento Kings this past summer.
He was traded from the Kings to the San Antonio Spurs in mid-October, where he was subsequently waived. McDaniels is currently on the roster of the Capital City Go-Go G League team, and considering his less-than-promising stint with the Raptors, a run in the G League may be the best opportunity for him.
Oshae Brissett
A native of Toronto, 26-year-old Oshae Brissett spent a solitary season with the Toronto Raptors during the 2019-20 campaign, where he didn’t quite experience a breakout. He was subsequently waived during training camp before the start of the 2020-21 season, but he found NBA success as a member of the Indiana Pacers.
In his three seasons with the Pacers, Brissett became an important rotation player, but gradually fell out of the lineup as the team focused on its playoff aspirations once again.
He reached the pinnacle of NBA success last season as a productive reserve for the Boston Celtics, who went on to win the 2024 NBA Championship. Brissett would decline his $2.5 million player option in the offseason to hit the open market, but alas he remains a free agent to this day.
Brissett is the most likely candidate to be picked up by an NBA team this year, given that he remained a productive roster member during his limited minutes with the Celtics.
Malachi Flynn
Selected as the 29th overall pick by the Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 26-year-old San Diego State product faced a tumultuous journey, ultimately failing to demonstrate the effectiveness needed to secure a consistent role.
Flynn would spend a total of four seasons in Toronto, experiencing a resurgence during the early part of the 2023-24 campaign. However, he would ultimately be included in last year’s blockbuster Knicks-Raptors trade.
Flynn would spend a brief period in New York before being traded once more, this time to the Detroit Pistons at the 2024 trade deadline. While in Detroit, he astonished everyone with an unexpected breakout performance, scoring 50 points off the bench on April 3, 2024.
Flynn is currently a member of the Austin Spurs G League team. While he may not be the most efficient scorer, he certainly has the ability to deliver crucial points when you least expect it. Perhaps an NBA team will be enticed by his G League performance and decide to pick him up as a late talent acquisition.
Some honorable mentions
Other former Raptors still available in the open market include:
- Mouhamadou Gueye, a 26-year-old forward who played in 11 games for Toronto last season, is currently with the Capital City Go-Go G League team.
- Armoni Brooks, a 26-year-old guard, played in 13 games with Toronto during the 2021-22 season. He is currently a roster member of Olimpia Milano in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague.
- Javon Freeman-Liberty, a 25-year-old guard, appeared in 22 games with Toronto last season. He is currently playing in the G League, with the Windy City Bulls.
- D.J. Carton, a 24-year-old guard, spent two seasons with Toronto but made only a brief appearance, having played a total of just eight games. He was recently waived by the Raptors earlier in November.
- Kira Lewis Jr. is a 23-year-old guard who arrived in Toronto as part of the Pascal Siakam trade, yet he appeared in just one game for the team last season. Like Mouhamadou Gueye, he is currently with the Capital City Go-Go in the G League.