Raptors Free Agency: 3 Players the team should sign after forward walks away
The Toronto Raptors agreed to a contract buyout with newly-acquired forward Sasha Vezenkov, who gave up his entire salary for 2024-25 in order to leave the NBA and return to Europe. From a financial standpoint, the Raptors were paid to take on Vezenkov's money, then didn't have to pay Vezenkov a dime. It was a nice bit of business.
From an on-court perspective, however, the Raptors desperately needed Vezenkov. He looked like a perfect offensive fit for head coach Darko Rajakovic's system, and Toronto needed both his shooting and his mere presence in the rotation as a true forward. The Raptors have one true forward on the roster in Scottie Barnes; everyone else is an undersized wing or a big stretched slightly out of position.
With an open roster spot, the Raptors can sign a forward in free agency to help shore up their depth. Should they add a veteran contributor or take a shot on a young prospect? Let's look at three different options and explore why they would be worth "buying low" on.
No. 3: Gordon Hayward
It was a tale of two halves last season for Gordon Hayward. His start to the season with the Charlotte Hornets was extremely solid, as the 14-year veteran averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 36.1 percent from deep. That level of performance made it seem extremely reasonable for the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade for him at the trade deadline.
Then things fell apart for Hayward, who averaged just 5.3 points per game and seemed genuinely afraid to shoot at time, passing up open looks to move the ball on to someone more inclined to shoot. At 34 years old it's possible something just broke for Hayward to end the season, but more likely he can reside somewhere in the middle with whatever team signs him.
The Raptors could use a savvy passer and capable shooter like Hayward coming off the bench, and he could likewise provide a veteran voice for the team. He should be available for the minimum at this point, and would give the Raptors a low-risk bet on a player they may be able to trade at the deadline.