1 Dream, 1 reach, 1 realistic free agent for Raptors to target
The Toronto Raptors will have plenty of options in free agency this summer.
If they decline Bruce Brown's team option and wipe away every cap hold, they would have a hair under $40 million cap space. They will obviously keep Immanuel Quickley's cap hold on the books to then re-sign him to a higher number, but that leaves them with $27 million in space to work with before any trades move that number up or down.
Do the Raptors want to spend that money on a veteran free agent to help them win games? Do they want to use it to take on bad contracts from other teams for draft compensation? How the Raptors see themselves over the next year will dictate their strategy in free agency.
There is also the issue of convincing players to sign with a Raptors franchise that was as bad as it gets down the stretch last season. Will players want to sign on to play with Scottie Barnes and Quickley? With that hurdle in mind, let's look at three potential free agent signings for the Raptors this summer: 1 dream free agent, 1 free agent they could reach for, and 1 who is a bit more realistic to bring in.
Dream Free Agent: OG Anunoby
We discussed yesterday the reporting that OG Anunoby may not be a lock to return to the New York Knicks, and it's the kind of bombshell news that cracks the door open just a sliver for a perfect offseason signing and a return to the 905 for one of the league's best two-way players.
The Raptors would need to do some work to clear enough space to sign Anunoby. Assuming he wants a contract that starts in the high $30 millions, Toronto would need to move off of the salaries of players like Chris Boucher, Jalen McDaniels or even Kelly Olynyk to clear the extra $10+ million. If they offered a contract averaging $40 million per season over four years they would be committing a substantial amount to a non-star, but one who fits like a glove alongside Barnes and Quickley.
Is Anunoby leaving New York? Perhaps not. Is he leaving New York for a team other than the Philadelphia 76ers or Oklahoma City Thunder, win-now title contenders who can pay him a hefty contract? That seems extremely unlikely. Toronto can hope their history together earns them a conversation, but even then the odds are hail-mary long.