3 stars the Toronto Raptors should sign in free agency this summer

No. 2: Jrue Holiday

Building a contending team involves assembling a roster of players who fit into a theory of success on both offense and defense. The Toronto Raptors took steps toward solving the offensive questions by adding players such as Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk.

What's the plan on defense? That question is more uncertain. Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl are a formidable pairing, but most of the rotation otherwise is slanted toward offense or are defenders with absolutely no defensive ability. Their solution moving forward has to include an impact perimeter defender who doesn't kill the team's ability to answer the offensive problem.

Jrue Holiday is a perfect player to target this summer. He is a steady hand with the ball and a savvy off-ball player used to playing off of dynamic scoring forwards. Defensively he is both an elite on-ball defender of guards and wings as well as an excellent team defender. Holiday has incredible postseason experience and won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021; he could win another this year with the league-leading Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are going to be extremely expensive, however, and it's not unthinkable that they would let Holiday walk (or offer him a contract at a lower number) in order to not cripple their team-building abilities down the line. If so, the Raptors could make a run at him this summer.