Toronto Raptors: 2016 Offseason Grades
Signing Sullinger
The Toronto Raptors didn’t find the upgrade at the power forward spot that they’ve been looking for for years now, but they did bolster the position with the addition of Jared Sullinger.
After the Celtics made Sullinger an unrestricted free agent by rescinding their qualifying offer, the Raptors used their full Mid-Level Exception ($5.6 million) to sign him, hard-capping themselves in the process.
This is something of a surprise considering how few teams reached that point with the NBA’s salary cap shooting through the roof, but it’s a decent addition for Toronto’s frontcourt depth — even with Sullinger’s well-documented flaws to worry about.
To get better, Sullinger must stay in shape and get weaned off of the long twos. With DeRozan on hand, Raptors can't let him shoot as many
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) July 11, 2016
Last season, Sully averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.6 minutes per game for a well-balanced Boston Celtics team. He started in 73 of his 81 games, making it the healthiest of his four seasons in the league.
If Sullinger can stay healthy — and more importantly, stay in shape — he’ll be a quality and cost-effective backup. With Patrick Patterson set to hit free agency next summer, the Raptors will also have options as to who they’ll want to keep on the roster moving forward.
At only 24 years old, Sullinger still has yet to carve out a concrete role in this league, but perhaps playing for a superior Raptors team will help him find it. If not, his contract comes off the books next summer anyway.
Grade: C+
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