The Toronto Raptors had a rough season in the NBA this past year after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference and after bringing in new general manager Masai Ujiri, the team has some hope heading into the summer and with some solid free agents on the market, the team is ready to add some talent.
The Raptors have some good players on the roster, especially on the wings with Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields and with some extra help inside and at point guard, there is a good chance that the team could contend in the East next season, at least for one of the final playoff spots. The team has a number of options out there and some include Al Jefferson, Devin Harris, Tiago Splitter, Jason Maxiell, Nate Robinson and Jose Calderon.
Jefferson may be out of the price range due to the financial situation, but after trading for Gay earlier in the year, the Raptors could try and go for broke this season and make some noise in the East. Ujiri is ready for the challenge after coming over from the Denver Nuggets and after guiding the team to its best season in franchise history and navigating the Carmelo Anthony trade, he is ready to get to work as the Executive of the Year and he hopes to bring that same success to his team north of the border. The Nuggets were the best home team in the league last season and now Ujiri will try and bring that same attitude to Toronto.
Ujiri will first try and trade Andrea Bargnani if anyone will take his contract and he also will have to get the team under the luxury tax threshold and he could do that with a deal or with amnestying another player. Some affordable options out there may include Splitter, Jason Maxiell as well as Robinson, while Calderon may return after being put in the deal for Gay. Trading Andrea Bargnani will be the toughest test for Ujiri, but he has shown acumen for tough deals and he could do that again.
Splitter has shown he is a solid center this playoffs and Robinson could come in and play as well as he had for the Bulls this past playoffs. Kyle Korver is another interesting option and Calderon could end up back in Toronto after spending his first eight seasons there. Devin Harris has said he is interested in the Bucks, but he could also be an affordable option.
