3 Canadian players the Toronto Raptors could go after this summer

It's difficult for the Toronto Raptors to be the lone non-U.S.-based NBA franchise. As a result, Toronto and Canada can sometimes get a bad rap, ultimately turning away high-profile names from signing up North. On the bright side, when the Toronto Raptors stumble upon a player who embraces the city and Canadian experience, it truly adds a sense of love within the fanbase. The Raptors can often be overlooked by their big-market counterparts and the media, slipping under the radar.

Hence, it was a welcome return to familiar territory when RJ Barrett was traded from the Knicks to the Toronto Raptors in the deal that sent OG Anunoby to New York. The hometown hero's move back to his roots was a breath of fresh air, allowing Barrett to reconnect with his roots and play for the team that drafted him third overall in 2019. Prior to RJ's arrival, the Raptors had never had a Canadian superstar in their nearly 30-year history, with only a few quality Canadian role players ever donning the team's uniform.

The Toronto Raptors can target more Canadian players

With Chris Boucher, Kelly Olynyk, and RJ Barrett on the roster, the Toronto Raptors have a sense of added Canadian pride to their team's identity. So why not keep building to their roster of Canadian Raptors by adding these three canucks from across the league. Not only do they proudly represent the country of Canada, but they could slide right into this iteration of the Toronto Raptors and contribute effectively.