Title: Draft profiles: 6 bigs the Raptors could select with the No. 28 pick
Date: May 27, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about six bigs the Raptors could take a look at with the No. 28 pick in the draft.
Take a look at the Toronto Raptors’ current depth chart for 2020-21 and you’ll notice a striking lack of size.
Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka are unrestricted free agents, Chris Boucher is a restricted free agent and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a big by role if not height, is set for free agency. Dewan Hernandez, who will basically be repeating his rookie season, is the closest thing to a centre, and even his deal is non-guaranteed. I love lineups with OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam at the five, but the Raptors will need to shore things up in the frontcourt.
Of course, it won’t be quite that bad. While we can’t accurately project salaries or the broader market until we receive clarity on how the league will handle the salary cap coming out of hiatus, it seems unlikely all four of those players will walk. The Raptors hold full Bird rights on Gasol and Ibaka and can exceed the cap to re-sign them; it seems probable that at least one of them is back, especially if one is amenable to a one-year deal. The Raptors may only get one of Boucher or Hollis-Jefferson back — their non-Bird rights on Hollis-Jefferson are a limiting factor coming off of a strong season — and then it’s possible they use one of the available exceptions to add depth.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 