The Toronto Raptors might have had a better roster than they did a year ago when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. It didn’t matter much to anybody though after Toronto was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. The Raptors were no match for the defending NBA champions. Like Toronto, Cleveland has vastly improved its roster to stay a step ahead of its competition in the East. The problem for the Raptors is that after going all-in to win this year the future is much less certain. Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka are set to become free agents while a decision has to be made on the future of head coach Dwane Casey. The franchise appears to be at a crossroads entering what should be a busy offseason.
3 Things The Raptors Have To Work On
1. Decide On Lowry’s Future
There are some that think Lowry won’t even give the Raptors a chance to bring him back as a free agent this offseason. If he does leave the door open, Toronto will need to decide on Lowry’s future. The All-Star point guard just turned 31-years-old and the Raptors might not want to commit to him with a max contract over a long term. Lowry averaged 22.4 points, 7.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and produced a .412 three-point percentage this past season. However, he also missed significant time due to injuries and even when he was healthy the current Toronto roster wasn’t good enough to beat the Cavaliers. The Raptors might decide to turn their attention to the future and the potential post-LeBron era in Cleveland. Either way, their biggest decision will be whether or not to bring back Lowry with a max contract.
2. Bring Back Ibaka & Tucker
While the Raptors might not want to pay Lowry with a max contract over a long term, they should bring back Ibaka and P.J. Tucker. The 27-year-old Ibaka helped Toronto produce the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA and the second-most wins after the All-Star break after arriving via trade from the Orlando Magic. Ibaka averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while hitting nearly 40-percent of his three-point shot attempts. Meanwhile, Tucker was an absolute force at the defensive end of the floor. He made a statement in the Raptors Game 4 loss to Cleveland when he had 14 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and a block while playing tight defense on LeBron James for 46 minutes. Ibaka and Tucker make Toronto a much better team at both ends of the floor. The Raptors would be smart to convince both to return as free agents.
3. Add Three-Point Shooters
The Cavaliers have averaged an NBA-best 14.4 three-point shots per game on 43-percent shooting so far in these playoffs. Toronto averaged just 7.8 three-point shots on 33-percent shooting, which was the second-worst mark among playoff teams ahead of only the Chicago Bulls. There is no doubt that the three-ball was the biggest factor in the Raptors getting swept by Cleveland. They couldn’t slow down the Cavaliers arsenal and they certainly couldn’t keep up with them either. Adding three-point shooters must be a priority for Toronto this offseason. Kyle Korver is set to become a free agent. Danilo Gallinari could be available. J.J. Redick could be another option to consider. The bottom line is that if the Raptors want to contend they need to improve their outside shooting. That will require an aggressive approach in free agency as they look to lock up some quality three-point shooters.
Key Free Agents
Lowry is likely to command a max contract but the Raptors would be smart to pass when they could better use that money elsewhere. Ibaka and Tucker are two key free agents that Toronto should want back. Both players can perform at a high level at the defensive end and Ibaka in particular can stretch the floor as a power forward. The Raptors will save substantial money if they don’t bring back Lowry. In addition to signing Ibaka and Tucker, they need to be aggressive in free agency in order to lock up some quality three-point shooters. Toronto isn’t far from contending in the Eastern Conference. They just need to make the necessary adjustments and hope that LeBron eventually begins to slow down.
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