link: https://www.espn.com.au/nba/insider/story/_/id/39854732/nba-offseason-2024-draft-trade-free-agency-guides-every-eliminated-nba-team
# Raptors below:
> **State of the roster**: For the third time in four years, Toronto enters the offseason out of the playoffs. The foundation of Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam no longer is on the roster. Anunoby and Siakam were replaced with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji and future draft picks.
> The Raptors went 9-32 after the Siakam trade and finished with their fewest wins since 2011-12. “I don’t know [whether] to call this a rebuild or a reset or however we want to put it, but a normal rebuild with other teams takes … five, six years. Do we have the patience for that?” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in February. A three-to-five-year rebuild starts with a stockpile of draft picks and a group of young first-round picks on their rookie contracts.
> The Raptors are not in that position. They are in a similar place to the Pacers retool that started in February 2022 when Domantas Sabonis was swapped for Tyrese Haliburton.
> Instead of the All-Star Haliburton to build around, the Raptors have a franchise player in Scottie Barnes. Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick and Kelly Olynyk give Toronto with a foundation to work from.
>The Raptors also have $40 million in expiring contracts (Brown and Chris Boucher) to use in a trade either in the offseason or closer to the deadline. They could also enter free agency with close to $32 million if Brown’s option is declined.
> **Offseason finances**: The Raptors are in position to have cap space for the first time since 2015 if they decline Brown’s option and renounce all their free agents except for Quickley. They have until June 29 to pick up Brown’s option.
> If the option is declined, Toronto could create up to $26 million in room. Quickley has a $12.5 million hold, and the Raptors can use cap space before re-signing the guard, who will be a restricted free agent. Not including a new contract for Quickley, Toronto has $93 million in guaranteed salary. If the Raptors remain over the cap, they’ll have the $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and $4.7 million biannual exception.
> The Raptors also have two trade exceptions ($10.2 and $1.6 million). They would have the $8 million room midlevel exception if they operate as a cap space team.
> **Top front office priority**: Do not expect the Raptors to lose their starting point guard in free agency again. Quickley is a restricted free agent and it is all but certain Toronto will tender him a one-year, $8.5 million qualifying offer by June 29.
> The real negotiation starts the day after the Finals end, when Quickley and the Raptors can begin discussing a new deal. In the role as full-time starter, Quickley averaged a career-high 6.8 assists and 18.6 points. The Raptors averaged 114.1 points per 100 possessions and were a plus-2.9 with Quickley sharing the court with Barrett and Barnes. A four-year, $109 million contract with a starting salary of $24.5 million would put Quickley in the middle of the pack of starting point guard salaries. The average starting point guard salary in 2024-25 is $27.8 million.
> The Raptors also have a decision to use Brown’s $23 million salary as a trade chip or to create cap space. Brown averaged 9.6 points but shot only 31.7% on 3-pointers. Because of the minimum salary rule, the Raptors need to spend at least $126.9 million of the salary cap by the first day of the regular season.
> **Extension candidate to watch**: Expect Barnes to join Siakam, Chris Bosh and Vince Carter as the only rookie max extensions in franchise history. Barnes is eligible to sign a five-year, $225 million contract that could possibly increase to $269 million if All-NBA language is negotiated.
> Before breaking his left hand on March 1, Barnes was averaging a career-high 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists. His 3-point shooting improved from 28.1% to 34.1%. Barnes was one of four players this season with multiple games of 30 points, 3 blocks and 3 steals, along with Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama.
> **Team needs**: Point guard depth and bench scoring on the perimeter. The Raptors could go with a combination of Liberty-Freeman and Brown (if his option is exercised) behind Quickley. Liberty-Freeman started four games in March, averaging 12.5 points. The Raptors ranked 28th in 3-point percentage from their reserves.
> **Future draft assets**: If Toronto does send its 2024 first to San Antonio, the Raptors would then be allowed to trade their 2025 first starting on the night of the draft. If the first is retained, the next allowable year is 2027. The first owed to San Antonio is top-6 protected in 2025 and 2026. Toronto is owed a future first-round pick from Indiana (top-4 protected in 2026 and 2027). The Raptors also have four second-round picks available.
by mMounirM
1 Comment
>**Team needs**: Point guard depth and bench scoring on the perimeter.
Depth is desperately needed at the forward/center positions so it’s weird to highlight the PG when ballhandling is likely going to see split minutes between Quickley/Barnes in staggered minutes after the start. Like yeah, a backup point is also a good idea but we lack size and we especially lack players to put at the 4/5.
Some backcourt options in free agency: Jalen Smith, Nic Claxton (Only if we trade Poeltl would this make sense), Isaac Okoro (Technically and RFA but the Cavs are/will be lowkey expensive with Mobley’s extension coming up so they might not match him), Isaiah Hartenstein
Some backcourt options in the draft: Ryan Dunn, Yves Missi, Jared McCain, Ulrich Chomche, Tidjane Salaun, Cody Williams, Alex Sarr, Zach Risacher (Some of these may not be options if we don’t keep our pick/if we only stay at 6)