Pretty well done piece with concise analysis of all teams going into free agency.
Here's what they had on the Raptors:
Offseason priorities
- The $23 million Bruce Brown team option. The Raptors could open cap flexibility if the option is declined but would lose a future trade chip.
- The Scottie Barnes rookie max extension. Barnes is eligible to sign a five-year, $215 million extension. The contract would be the largest in franchise history.
- The cost to retain restricted free agent Immanuel Quickley. The average starting point guard salary is $26 million.
The 2024 draft
- First: No. 19 (via IND)
- Second: No. 31 (via DET)
Draft notebook
The Raptors own two interesting picks in the middle of the draft at Nos. 19 and 31. The type of players they target might signal what their urgency level is to get back to the playoffs, after transitioning to a much younger roster built around Barnes. As constituted, they're still a long way from returning. It might make sense to focus on developmental upside with at least one of their picks, considering there are plenty of young players who need minutes already on board. — Woo
Team needs
- 3-point shooting
- Point guard depth
- Bench scoring at the wings
- Backup big
- Quickley signed to a reasonable deal
- Off-ball offensive development from Barnes
Future draft assets rating: 7 out of 10
The Raptors have their own first in the next seven years and a 2026 top-four-protected first from Indiana. The first is top-four protected in 2027 if not conveyed. Toronto has six second-round picks available.
Cash: $7.0 million (to send) | $7.0 million (to receive)
Cap space breakdown: The Raptors are in position to have cap space for the first time since 2015 if they decline the $23 million Brown option and renounce all their free agents except Quickley. If the option is declined, Toronto could create up to $28 million in room. The Raptors have a $10.1 million trade exception available.
CBA impact: There are no trade restrictions for Toronto.
Projected Depth Chart – Toronto – (2: Two-way; PG: Partial guarantee; T: Team option)
| PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB. Brown | G. Dick | R. Barrett | S. Barnes | J. Poeltl |
| PGJ. Liberty | O. Agbaji | J. McDaniels | C. Boucher | K. Olynyk |
| 2D. Carton | 2M. Gueye |
Dates to watch
- June 28: The last day to exercise the $23 million team option of Brown.
- June 29: The last day to tender a one-year qualifying offer to Quickley.
Extension eligible: Gary Trent Jr. (through June 30); Barnes (as of July 6); Chris Boucher (as of July 7)
Free agent status
- Bruce Brown | Non-Bird | Team
- Jordan Nwora | Bird | UFA
- Gary Trent Jr. | Bird | UFA
- Immanuel Quickley | Bird | RFA
- Garrett Temple | Non-Bird | UFA
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I think it's worth pointing out to the people doom and glooming about our future or about the Siakam trade: we're already back to being in the top tier in terms of future draft assets. Also worth noting that of the teams he scored 7 or higher, only the Knicks have won more than one playoff series (2) since we won our ring.
We have a young core that finally actually fits together, featuring an All Star and two guys who looked like borderline All Stars at times last year. We're well positioned in terms of picks and assets, we have cap space that could be used in many different ways and no terrible contracts. I couldn't find a similar "Future Draft Assets Rating" in an article last year, but I'm willing to bet we would have scored much lower. Front office hasn't been perfect, but they're finally back in the drivers seat instead of playing catchup from all the chips they cashed in for the ring (and the bad money spent trying to run it back.)
Exciting time to be Raptors fan IMO.
by Pistol-P
3 Comments
What I think is likely to happen:
Toronto acts like a cap team team.
Toronto picks up the option on Brown
Toronto signs Quickly to a 4 year/ $110 million deal.
Toronto re-signs Trent to a 2 year/ 50 million deal with a 2nd year team option – aka the Bruce Brown deal.
Toronto explores trading Trent and Brown but otherwise keeps them because they actually need a bench.
Toronto drafts a big and a wing in the draft.
Toronto uses the MLE to sign a backup PG.
Toronto trades Boucher for very little return
That’s what I think could actually happen this offseason.
Lineup:
Quickly, Dick, Barrett, Barnes, Poeltl
Free agent, Trent, Brown, 19th pick , Olynyk
Abaji, 31st pick, McDaniels, roster filler
>I think it’s worth pointing out to the people doom and glooming about our future or about the Siakam trade: we’re already back to being in the top tier in terms of future draft assets
No they’re not. They’re back to being in a slight benefit, not a stockpile of picks.
Is Brown a big trade chip? What’s the most we can hope to get out of him? Maybe a SRP?