8. Picked up Bruce Brown's team option
Made decision to pay Bruce Brown $23 million for this year of basketball by picking up his team option
Agreeing to a new contract with Immanuel Quickley was the most important move of the offseason for the Raptors, and their selection of Ja'Kobe Walter may have the most long-term impact. The move that had the largest impact on this summer, however, was the decision to pick up Bruce Brown's team option.
Brown came to Toronto as the primary matching salary in the Pascal Siakam trade, and the veteran wing struggled to find his footing with the Raptors. The best fits for Brown are either with the ball in his hands as a playmaker -- not a fit alongside ball-dominant players such as RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes -- or as a savvy cutter in a spaced-out court, also something he didn't often find on a shooting-challenged Raptors roster. He had a poor stretch when the Raptors' core was still healthy, then continued to struggle during the insanity that was the end of the season.
Toronto looked for deals to flip Brown at the Trade Deadline and didn't find one that they liked. That led to a decision point this summer: should they pick up Brown's $23 million team option, maintaining the trade asset at the cost of being able to use cap space this summer, or should they decline the option, let him walk, and use that cap space on a player who fits better.
The Raptors elected to pick up the option, committing $23 million to a player who isn't worth that contract on a non-contender, and may not be worth it to any team willing to trade for him. If the Raptors cannot find a trade suitor for Brown they are paying significant money to an ill-fitting veteran, and this grade plummets. There is still a chance they find that trade return, and then this decision can be properly weighed.
Grade: C