Adding talented players in free agency is a complicated game. The Toronto Raptors cannot simply offer the most money and expect to land whoever they want this summer. In addition to money, the Raptors have to sell players on team culture, on playing opportunity, on development, on living in Toronto, and so forth.
One way to help move the conversation forward is to lean on relational connections. It's hard to deny that Donte DiVincenzo signing with the New York Knicks last summer was in part driven by his friendship with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, also on the Knicks. Relationships have also driven star player team-ups, such as when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed together on the Brooklyn Nets or LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami.
Immanuel Quickley can help the Raptors recruit free agents
The Raptors just overhauled their roster this past year, and in the process brought on a player in Immanuel Quickley who has relational connections to players around the league. Quickley is outgoing and personable and the exact kind of recruiter the Raptors would love to utilize in targeting free agents this summer.
Going back to Quickley's time in New York, or even further back to his play at the University of Kentucky, which pending free agents could the Raptors recruit to the team, leaning on Quickley to help seal the deal? Let's look at three options, including one longshot option who would reunite a Wildcat backcourt that did a lot of damage in Lexington and could do so again in Toronto.