3 Free agents still available to Raptors a month into free agency

No. 2: Aleksej Pokusevski

By definition, a "home run swing" is a low-percentage shot. Sometimes such a swing will work out - Exhibit A being Giannis Antetokounmpo - but other times it does not, such as former Raptors draft pick Bruno Caboclo.

One recent home run swing is Serbian big man Aleksej Pokusevski, a seven-foot guard the Oklahoma City Thunder took a shot on in the 2020 NBA Draft. A highlight reel of Pokusevski's best moments looks like an MVP candidate, but they are interspersed by a lanky, uncoordinated project player who can't make a positive impact on an NBA court.

The Thunder finally gave up on "Poku" and traded him to the Charlotte Hornets, who gave him plenty of run down the stretch and got more flashes and more inconsistency. To his credit, however, his defensive impact was real, and perhaps there is a sliver of a path to Pokusevski putting it together.

The Raptors could extend a non-guaranteed deal to Poku and invite him to training camp to see how he fits with their group. If he were to somehow settle into a rhythm, his combination of skills as a center-sized player would be an intriguing fit next to Scottie Barnes. That future is horribly unlikely and a long ways off, but the Raptors may be patient enough to roll the dice.