For months excitement has been brewing around the Toronto Raptors about how they would use their cap space this summer. Would they make a big swing for an All-Star? Was there a starting wing they would bring in to add to the team? The blank canvas of cap space is an alluring one.
Recent reporting, however, suggests that the Raptors are planning to pick up Bruce Brown's $23 million team option. Once you factor in Immanuel Quickley's cap hold, the Raptors' cap space is nearly all used up. Rather than go into the offseason with $4 or $5 million in space, it now seems likely that the Raptors will stay over the cap, giving them flexibility with their own free agents and opening up the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception.
The "MLE" is projected to start at $12.86 million and can go up to four years, $55.29 million. What free agents would be available at that amount? Let's look briefly at five names to keep an eye on this summer if the Raptors go shopping with the Mid-Level Exception.
No. 5: Caleb Martin
Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin had his moment in the sun during the 2023 playoffs, shooting the lights out and defending multiple positions for a Heat team that went from the 8-seed to the NBA Finals.
His work in the regular season has been less impressive, but at the least he is a good defender and willing shooter with some upside to grow as a shot creator and sharpen his accuracy. The inconsistency of his shot probably pushes him down the Raptors' list a few spots, but players with his skillset are always needed and his market should start at the MLE.