Colin Castleton
It honestly surprised me to hear that Colin Castleton was being brought back to the Raptors after the team waived Orlando Robinson in mid-April. Toronto gave him a 10-day contract back in March, and I wasn't blown away by what Castleton brought to the table; he was a solid addition, but nothing special.
Toronto gave him a two-year deal that locks him in for the final game of the 2024-25 campaign and is non-guaranteed for the 2025-26 season, meaning Castleton will have to prove himself in the Summer League, preseason, and training camp to earn a spot on the finalized roster.
The Raptors definitely need some reinforcements at the center position, and Castleton can certainly be a third-string reserve if needed, but I don't think he has a good chance of making that final cut. I'd say Toronto gives a more established veteran center a look in free agency, similar to how they went about Bruno Fernando last year.
Chances of returning to the Raptors: Not likely
Cole Swider
I get where Toronto was going with this when they signed Cole Swider to a 10-day deal, and later a rest-of-season contract. With Swider, you're hoping to see his best shooting self—trying to take good shots, as Darko Rajakovic mentioned during the season—and that his three-point ability can be on full display.
Swider had passable shooting splits for Toronto, at 37.9% from the field (which could use some work), and nearly 36% from deep, which is certainly decent. Seeing as he'd be a third-string sort of specialist in that regard, I'm sure Toronto is happy to know they have a much more proven rotation piece in that department with Jamison Battle.
I think Toronto could benefit from having a guy like Swider develop in their Raptors 905 program, but as far as making the cut for the main roster, I’m not really seeing the vision.
Chances of returning to the Raptors: Not likely
Jared Rhoden
Here's a guy who got the green light to show what he's made of as the Raptors embarked on a hazy final-season push: Jared Rhoden.
In Rhoden, you're getting a scoring wing who can get buckets at will, as shown by two 20+ point performances in his last five Raptors outings—25 against the 76ers on March 12 and 23 against the Hornets on April 9, both in winning efforts.
With those opportunities to shine, Rhoden was proving that he could be a developmental piece for the Raptors, whether in the G League or with the main roster, in the years to come. Then, at the end of the season, news of an injury became apparent: Rhoden would undergo surgery for a torn labrum, putting a significant setback in his Raptors hopes.
Raptors insider Josh Lewenberg pointed out that Rhoden would be out of action for most of "the team's summer development program," which all but proves that Toronto might be forced to rid their hands of Rhoden, even though he was looking like a bright spot.
Chances of returning to the Raptors: Not likely
AJ Lawson
It might be the Canadian pride in me talking, but I really like AJ Lawson.
I was very impressed by what he provided to the Raptors during a tumultuous time. It was capped off by a huge career night against the Washington Wizards on March 10, where Lawson recorded 32 points, going 7-for-14 from three, and a double-double with 12 rebounds.
He'd follow that up with yet another impressive outing against the 76ers on March 12 with 28 points, and while Lawson's production would take a bit of a dip as time passed; a quick look at his final seven-game sample size for Toronto in April shows a tale of consistency.
Lawson averaged 12.6 points on 51.8% from the field, 36% from three, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and one steal per game in the month of April. Sure, it was Toronto's final stretch towards the finish line, so you could say it's meaningless, but I think it helped Lawson's case to remain with the team going forward nonetheless.
He's got heart, hustle, and grit—everything Masai Ujiri looks for in a potential Raptors player. And he's Canadian too, which is yet another good reason to keep him around in town. There have been Canadians in years past that Toronto opted to let go, like Oshae Brissett and Dalano Banton, but I think AJ Lawson has the opportunity to carve out his own path.
Chances of returning to the Raptors: Likely
Honorable Mention: Garrett Temple
As the youngins would say, there aren't too many "oldheads" left in the league, and when it comes to respected NBA veterans, you gotta mention 38-year-old Raptors guard Garrett Temple.
Temple hasn't been a very productive or impactful NBA rotation piece in quite some time, but that's not why teams bring him in at this late stage of his professional career. By this point, Temple has accumulated enough wisdom and veteran leadership to help mentor his young teammates; this is evident from his stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and New Orleans Pelicans before coming over to the Toronto Raptors.
The fact that Temple is also the Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association is just added proof to how his peers view him in high regard.
Young players in the Raptors organization have already spoken in other articles about the impact of having Garrett Temple on the team, with Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes as some examples. He clearly has a good relationship with the Raptors' brass, and I’d like to think the front office will work to bring him back—whether in some off-court, non-playing role or if he continues to be an end-of-rotation vet.
Chances of returning to the Raptors: Likely