There’s likely to be some churn
As I noted in my last post, there are a large number of Toronto Raptors whose contracts expire after this season. A critical determination for success in the coming seasons (this one is already cooked on both sides) will be keeping those young bucks who can contribute, and passing on the others. We also must point out that Masai Ujiri is not the master of his fate here. Each of these players can do what they want, including splitting town for what they perceive to be greener pastures. That’s outside of our control, so I’ll limit myself to assuming that all those who we want to return will do so.
Some valuable young guns here
Here are those currently wearing our colours until the buzzer sounds following Game 82:
- Gary Trent
- Bruce Brown
- Immanuel Quickley
- Jordan Nwora
- Jontay Porter
- Kira Lewis
So do we want Gary Trent back? I’d say yes, but he’s going to want a raise. Assuming he continues to shoot the ball well from outside (42.4% this season, which would be a career high if sustained), and defend his position, I can see him at around $22 million per season for a 3-year term. Despite his lack of size, he’s proven his ability to create his own shot, which greatly increases his value.
Bruce Brown is growing on me. Whether he’s shown enough to be worthy of picking up his team option at $23 million is another question which may not be answerable until season’s end. At the moment, I’m leaning towards ‘Yes’. If he’s enjoying another solid season in ’24-25, he’ll be a highly valuable entity next trade deadline. He was a major contributor to Denver’s title run, and would be of great interest to ambitious squads like OKC and Philly, even Orlando.
Immanuel is on record as saying he wants a major raise. Let’s see him come back healthy and productive, then make a decision. Quickley is an NBA-grade talent. He suits his last name – this man is fast. He can shoot from deep, or attack the paint with his floater. An assist to turnover ratio of better than 3:1 as a Raptor is more than acceptable.
One has to wonder whether there’s enough ball for Trent, Brown, and Quickley. Having redundancy in skills like deep shooting is valuable, but how much is too much? I can see keeping two of these three. If the money works, bring them all back, but I wouldn’t wager a nickel on that possibility. These guys will all be popular on the free-agent market, and at least one will bolt.
Pleasant surprises, & a mystery
Jordan Nwora is having a moment. In his last two games, he’s made 7 of 12 from deep, and totaled 41 points – off the bench. Are we seeing a fluke, or the emergence of a late bloomer? Of course, it’s too soon to tell, but he’s moved from being a salary-match addition in the Pascal Siakam deal, to a player of interest. He’s cheap, and even if he can sustain this production, he’s probably not worth more than $12 million a season on a 3-year deal. If he returns to his career norms…maybe he’ll receive an invitation to Summer League.
Jontay Porter has hit the trifecta – right guy, right place, right time. The Raptors have a serious need for a versatile big man who can shoot from deep, and he’s appeared out of the blue. Like Nwora, we don’t know if what he’s been doing is a flash in the pan, or a true reflection of his skills (he was a highly regarded senior in high school), but the early returns are encouraging. He’s had serious knee problems, and departed the Chicago game because of back spasms. Assuming chief medico Alex McKechnie and his people are satisfied Porter’s body isn’t already beyond repair, he is worth a gamble on a 2-year, $20 million deal.
Finally, and briefly, we turn to Kira Lewis. I can’t even venture a guess on this fellow; I don’t have any ‘eyeball’ data. There has to be a reason why Masai consented to bringing him on board, so let’s wait.
So where are we?
In the NBA, injuries are a constant. No team is exempt, and roster depth is critical. I’m encouraged by what the new guys have shown us so far. Everyone we’ve seen is at least a rotation-grade contributor, and several have the promise of more. The future isn’t bright yet, but we aren’t going to become next season’s Pistons either.
- Tags: Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors
