Having acquired Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline, the Raptors looked well-equipped to make a run in the Eastern Conference playoffs and perhaps even challenge the Cavaliers, a year after falling to Cleveland in the Eastern Finals. However, the Raps got all they could handle from the Bucks in the first round, then were thoroughly dominated by the Cavs in a second-round sweep. With a handful of key players – including Ibaka, Tucker, and All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry – eligible for free agency, a “culture reset” may be on tap for the franchise.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Raptors financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- DeMar DeRozan ($27,739,975)
- Jonas Valanciunas ($15,460,675)
- DeMarre Carroll ($14,800,000)
- Cory Joseph ($7,630,000)
- Lucas Nogueira ($2,947,305)
- Jakob Poeltl ($2,825,640)
- Bruno Caboclo ($2,451,225)
- Delon Wright ($1,645,200)
- Pascal Siakam ($1,312,611)
- Total: $76,812,631
Player Options
- Kyle Lowry ($12,000,000)
- Total: $12,000,000
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Norman Powell ($1,471,382)1
- Fred VanVleet ($1,312,611)2
- Total: $2,783,993
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Cap Holds
- Serge Ibaka ($18,375,000)
- Kyle Lowry ($18,000,000) — If player option is declined
- Patrick Patterson ($11,495,000)
- P.J. Tucker ($10,070,000)
- No. 23 overall pick ($1,645,200)
- Total: $59,585,200
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $20,910,939
- With nine players on guaranteed salaries and a cap hold for a first-round pick, the Raptors could add two cap charges for empty roster spots for a total team salary of $80,089,061. However, that scenario would involve waiving Powell and VanVleet, not to mention renouncing Lowry, Ibaka, Patterson, and Tucker. That’s not realistic. It’s far more likely that Toronto stays over the cap and makes an effort to re-sign some of its own free agents, forgoing potential cap room.
Footnotes:
- Powell’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 29.
- VanVleet’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 20.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Let k low walk make Cory or Delon starter or sign another pg for cheaper then what Kyle is asking for. Trade carrol and attach a 2nd rounder cuz no one will take him alone. Resign serge and pj and possibly a FA.
And hope in 2. Years that Lebron slows down.
1. Joseph/Wright platoon based on match ups and who’s hot.
2. Derozan.
3. Preferably a strong outside shooter. Could find a 2 to fit the role and move derozan to a 3
4. If carrol is in town let him start and have him shoot corner 3s all summer plus just focus on D. He should not be handling the ball
5. JV gets paid and has a good attitude. Let him play like he’s the man from the start, run him 30+ minutes a game for at least a couple months and see if the potential gets tapped into.
Wright, Powell, Poeltl, Siakam are a good start to the bench. I’d suggest adding a player capable of creating his own shot and then try and bring back Patterson as he can crush most second units if kept in those match ups.
Draft: best available player, regardless of position.
It’s been proven this seasons core isn’t strong enough, add in that we can’t keep all our FAs and I think it’s the best bet to let Lowry walk and use the money to try and address multiple role needs and build a more diverse lineup that doesn’t rely so heavily on Lowry and Derozan needing to be on every night to win.