Ranking Toronto Raptors free agents by likelihood to return next season

No. 4: Jordan Nwora should be back

The Toronto Raptors built their trade return for OG Anunoby around players, while they built the trade return for Pascal Siakam around draft picks. The Indiana Pacers sent Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis Jr. and Jordan Nwora to the Raptors as matching salary, but the trade was more about the three first-round picks than the players.

Lewis Jr. was routed to the Utah Jazz in the subsequent Kelly Olynyk trade, while Nwora and Bruce Brown are the next two players on this list. Nwora is a 6'8" forward who rebounds well, competes on defense and is comfortable shooting at a high volume.

The fact that Nwora hasn't hit those shots at a high level is why his career hasn't taken off, but that should work to the Raptors' advantage and they can likely sign him to a bargain deal to return. Given the upside of Nwora if the shot starts to fall and the Raptors' need for shooting, it makes sense for them to bring Nwora back next year.

No. 3: Bruce Brown could be back

Bruce Brown is the only player on this list who may not even reach free agency this summer. Brown has a $23 million team option for next season, and if the Raptors choose to exercise it he will bypass the free agent market entirely and return to Toronto to either play or be traded.

Brown is not worth $23 million next season, at least not based on the way that he played since arriving in Toronto midseason, but the Raptors could keep him aroudn to try and use him as matching salary in a trade. They could also decline the option but agree to a new contract with Brown, essentially lowering his salary but still offering more than he would get on the open market.

There is also a very strong possibility that they decline the option and let Brown walk in free agency to sign with a contending team. His skill set seems to work best on a spaced-out contending team and the Raptors are many years from reaching that point.