The Toronto Raptors are trying to achieve a roster transition without hitting rock bottom, reshaping their entire roster around Scottie Barnes and climbing back into the playoff mix as early as next season. That may not be the best approach for them, especially in a league where so many other teams are moving in that direction, but every sign from management is that they are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
That makes this summer crucial to change the squad. Last season, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby were sent to new teams and key players like Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Bruce Brown were added. Now the next step is to continue spinning the jig around the new core and find the right pieces to add. That process will involve the draft and the trade market, but a key moment for this team will be how it approaches free agency.
Teams trying to rush a rebuild are known for making massive mistakes in free agency, investing in the wrong players or overpaying for low-potential options. Ask the Toronto Raptors how they feel about signing DeMarre Carroll, or giving Otto Porter Jr. a guaranteed deal only to see him hit by one injury after another. How a team handles free agency can be a success or a failure.
Let’s look at three mistakes the Raptors should avoid making in free agency this summer as they look to further improve the roster, mistakes that could come back to haunt them in the future as they continue to build a lifeline for Toronto’s next great team.
