5 Free agents the Toronto Raptors can sign using the Mid-Level Exception

No. 3: Derrick Jones Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks had a tremendous sequence of moves last summer and at the trade deadline, building a roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving that was good enough to make the NBA Finals. One of the key players of that roster was journeyman forward Derrick Jones Jr.

Always an athletic and capable defender, Jones improved this past season as a shooter to ensure he could stay on the court in nearly any situation. He shot a respectable 34.3 percent from deep in the regular season and 36.9 percent in the playoffs, and his willingness to take those shots kept defenders from completely abandoning him.

He won't ever be an above-average offensive player, but his length and bounce on defense allowed the Mavericks to deploy him on players of nearly every position, making it worth it to play him big minutes despite the offensive limitations. Dallas will want to bring him back, but will need to offload substantial salary to free up an exception; otherwise, the most they can offer him is 120 percent of what he made last year on a minimum contract.

That could allow another team with its ducks in a row to swoop in and offer him a contract for the Full MLE at the start of free agency. Jones Jr. would be a terrifying defensive partner alongside Scottie Barnes, but as with all of the players mentioned thus far, the lack of a reliable outside shot could also be an issue. Jones would almost certainly be moveable at the trade deadline, however, making him a smart signing if the Raptors could pull it off.