NBA free agency provides teams with the opportunity to bolster their depth and patch up their weaknesses. The Raptors’ free agency period this year is no exception. However, Toronto’s roster is already close to full. They need to be conscious of preserving their cap space for upcoming contract extensions for Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
Who to target?
The Raptors should target veterans and depth to support their stars. Adding battle-hardened players that have experienced the highs and lows of the playoffs would reinforce the roster and complement their core players. Both the Brandon Ingram and Ochai Agbaji/Kelly Olynyk trades supported the Raptors in filling out their roster with more experience. These trades put the league on notice by changing their status from sellers to buyers.
An issue with having the majority of a roster locked up is that there’s minimal salary cap flexibility. If the Raptors don’t re-sign Chris Boucher — someone that checks off both veteran presence and depth — they’ll likely use their last contract spot on either their 2025 second-round pick, or they’ll sign a player to a minimum contract.
Chris Boucher
Boucher brings several strengths that make him an appealing free agent for Toronto. As the last remaining piece from their 2019 championship-winning roster, he’s immersed in the Raptors’ system and culture. He also provides frontcourt depth at a relatively cheap price; his asking price expected to be similar to his previous contract: $30 million over three years.
Boucher this past season averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on a 36.3% clip from beyond the arc while only playing 17.2 minutes a night. He’s been a reliable option off the bench when the frontcourt starters go cold.
That being said, Boucher is not a perfect player. Opposing teams boast a 116.6 offensive rating when he’s on the court, compared to a 114.5 rating when he’s off. He just boasted his poorest season efficiency-wise over the past three years, shooting just 49.2% from the field.
He also commands a market that might be a bit too rich for the Raptors’ liking. If Toronto were to sign him to a contract similar to his most recent one (3yr/$35million), along with their first-round pick, they’ll be above the first apron and well on their way to the second apron.
Realistically, the Raptors let Boucher walk. Masai Ujiri and the rest of the Raptors’ front office love to position themselves for contention via trade. With this in mind, the second salary cap apron restrictions become very unappealing. Toronto also wants to look to add a short-term contract to their roster to be able to afford an Ochai Agbaji extension. Boucher, on the other hand, would like the most amount of guaranteed money possible (who wouldn’t?).
Marvin Bagley III
When searching for big-man depth and league experience, Marvin Bagley III comes to mind. Infamous for being picked ahead of Luka Dončić in the star-studded 2018 draft, Bagley is far from having lived up to his lofty expectations. However, he’s currently a potential budget player that won’t break the Raptors’ bank.
Bagley is still only 26 but has seven years of NBA experience. He’s averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game over his career while only playing 8.5 minutes a game. He also missed 51 games due to injury this past season.
Bagley is more what the Raptors look for. He’s a low-risk depth player that can contribute on a game-to-game basis, but will most likely be fighting for minutes. He’ll also be cheaper than Boucher, expecting both less years on his contract and money. A great deal for a front office looking to shop at the bargain bin.
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Branching away from frontcourt depth, expanding backcourt depth is an option as well. The guards on the Raptors’ roster have an average age of 24. A majority of these players have never even played in the playoffs. However, what they lack in experience they more than make up for in hunger and grind. They just need a veteran presence to help with high pressure situations.
Kyle Lowry
With all of this in mind, Kyle Lowry perfectly fits what the Raptors could use right now. Returning to Toronto after he was sent to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade in 2021, he’d help mentor Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead. He would also work with the rest of the roster to instill the gritty playstyle he embodies. Signing Lowry could also help shift the team towards a defense-first, next-man-up identity the Raptors sported in the mid-2010s, which helped lead them to a title.
As the offseason starts to unfold, the Raptors’ front office needs to navigate free agency as cost-efficiently and self-consciously as possible. While the big gears are in place, the smaller cogs that surround them need to be just right. Over the next few months, the Raptors’ front office needs to put the perfect finishing touches on the next era of basketball up north.
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