Toronto Raptors Needs Heading Into the 2021 NBA Draft and Free Agency

To say the Toronto Raptors had a “down year” would be an understatement. The Raptors have a top-five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, in addition to a key player potentially leaving in free agency. Can they return to being a top team in the Eastern Conference?

The following is a complete look at the Toronto Raptors needs, as we approach the 2021 NBA Draft and Free Agency.

Toronto Raptors Needs Heading Into the Offseason

Toronto Raptors Free Agents

Here is a list of the players who are upcoming Toronto Raptors free agents that will either need to be re-signed or replaced.

• Kyle Lowry, PG
• Nando De Colo, PG (RFA)
• Gary Trent Jr., SG (RFA)
• Stanley Johnson, SF
• Khem Birch, PF
• Aron Baynes, C (Team-Option)

The Toronto Raptors made it pretty clear they intend to move on from Kyle Lowry when they committed long term to Fred VanVleet. Lowry is expected to hit the open market, which will take $30 million off the books for the Raptors. This move comes just in time for OG Anonoby’s extension to kick in and bump his salary from $3.8 million to $16 million in 2021-22.

At 22 years old, Gary Trent Jr. is a player who the Raptors may see as player to invest in for the long-term. He provides excellent shooting ability and his youth better fits with the direction the Raptors ought to go in. The fourth overall pick in the draft provides the Raptors many interesting possibilities in the draft.

Toronto Raptors 2021 NBA Draft Picks

First Round, 4th Overall

Second Round, 46th Overall

Second Round, 47th Overall

Toronto Raptors Draft Targets

Jalen Green

Jalen Green is exactly what the doctor ordered in Toronto. Green spent the last year playing in the G-League, as opposed to college basketball. He demonstrated an explosive first step and plenty of upside on both sides of the ball. At 19, he still lacks the muscle mass to be able to maintain his explosive style of play, but that can easily be fixed. Toronto should consider Jalen Green the most obvious choice with the fourth overall selection, if he falls that far.

Jalen Suggs

If Jalen Green is not available for the Toronto Raptors, they could still take an exceptional “consolation prize” in Jalen Suggs. He would be a fantastic sixth man for the Raptors and fill the role Fred VanVleet once did before he became the new starting point guard.