significant signing from the Toronto Raptors has occurred once more

October 19, 2023 admin Other Clubs 0

Toronto Raptors: Grades for each significant NBA free agent signing in the class of 2022

Although the Toronto Raptors have already completed their responsibilities in the 2022 NBA free agent class, has the situation improved?

If Masai Ujiri hadn’t been well-prepared, the Toronto Raptors might have lost crucial players Thaddeus Young and Chris Boucher in the first two weeks of free agency. Thankfully, the Raptors’ decision to re-sign Boucher and Young allowed them to avert a catastrophe.

After losing in the playoffs the previous year, the Raptors made bolstering the bench a primary priority. The Raptors’ decision to re-sign both of those seasoned players as well as add Otto Porter Jr. is proof that Ujiri can compete without detracting from Toronto’s depth.

Now, adding a reliable center and a stronger backup for Fred VanVleet might be the last two boxes they need to check.

Grades for Toronto Raptors’ 2022 NBA Free Agency
Replacing B. Chris Boucher

One of the best bench players on the club, Chris Boucher, has agreed to a new deal with the Toronto Raptors that will pay him more than $35 million over three years.

Boucher averaged little over 21 minutes per game and made nine starts during his tenure with the Raptors in the previous campaign. He scored 9.4 points in 80 games, primarily as a power forward with superstar Pascal Siakam and outstanding rookie Scottie Barnes.

The 29-year-old’s outstanding defensive skills were demonstrated by his 6.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game.

last season. With his new contract, he should be contributing more and embarking on more profitable escapades.

Thaddeus Young resigning: B

Given Young’s background, it was assumed that other teams would be interested in signing him in addition to the Raptors. Nonetheless, Young opted to rejoin the Raptors rather than other competitor teams in the Eastern Conference, such as the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. In retrospect, Toronto supporters should feel incredibly fortunate that he did.

Given his background, Young served as the Raptors’ de facto veteran glue guy in many ways. He served as the team’s

He put up 6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on the court each game on average. He counteracts the youth of the Raptors and is a reliable player on both ends. Paying $8 million for a veteran who can play on both ends was undoubtedly a smart move for the franchise.

It was beneficial for Young as well, of course, who is no doubt aware that he will no longer be averaging 15 points per game at this stage of his career. He does, however, still have the chance to compete for a championship while coaching the Raptors’ young players.

The Raptors signed another tall forward to their squad that fit the team’s personality. Having Otto Porter Jr.

value as a shooter and, by utilizing his long limbs, contributes defensively. It will be interesting to watch if he can maintain his motivation and health in a different environment. Remember that Porter just had a really good performance for Golden State in the previous season. Acquiring an NBA championship undoubtedly helped as well.

Porter will bring much-needed quality to the Raptors off the bench after moving up north. He is anticipated to serve as OG Anunoby’s main backup. This summer, the team’s ineffective offense and patchy defense were two major problems that needed to be fixed. Porter goes into great detail about those.

For the Golden State Warriors in the previous season, he averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 assists a game. He averaged more than 22 minutes per game and started 15 out of 63 games.

His title experience will also benefit a relatively young team, even if the Toronto Raptors have complimentary players who are holdovers from their own 2019 championship. His signing is a positive move that will help Nick Nurse’s club become a contender once more.

These individuals can be added to the rotation right immediately and contribute significantly, so Ujiri should have faith in them.But going forward, the squad still needs more bulk at the center position. They also require Fred VanVleet’s backup point guard.

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