5 Free agents Toronto Raptors should avoid at all costs this summer

The Toronto Raptors will enter this summer with a host of options available to them.

They could continue to tear down for a rebuild, moving off of veterans and using all three of their draft picks. They could swing the other way, using cap space and draft capital to add a significant player to pair with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. There are a number of paths in the middle of those two extremes as well.

Depending on what they do with Bruce Brown (team option for 2024-25) and Gary Trent Jr. (an unrestricted free agent) the Raptors could have as much as $46 million in cap space available to them this summer. Essentially every free agent on the market is a financial possibility for Toronto.

Should they take a big swing? Add multiple useful players? Use the money to take on salary from other teams? Invest in buy-low opportunities? Let's look at five players the Raptors could sign and explain why Toronto must stay away at all costs.

No. 5: DeMar DeRozan

There is a lot of love for DeMar DeRozan among Raptors fans and the Toronto organization. As he hits free agency this summer, a case could be made for bringing him back to the 905 to give this team another offensive engine. DeRozan would bring scoring punch and veteran experience to the roster, and he is a significantly better passer than he was when he was traded away.

DeRozan is also 34 years old and a defensive turnstile 85 percent of the time, and he thrives with the ball in his hands and only with the ball in his hands. The Raptors need the ball in the hands of Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley next season to continue their development; they aren't in need of a high-volume shot taker to such all of the offensive touches toward himself.

DeRozan doesn't fit their timetable and doesn't meet their needs, and would cost a substantial amount to sign as well. He is a clear player to stay away from.