Toronto Raptors: 5 potential free agency targets if the core leaves
By Nate Wolf
5. Ian Clark, PG/SG
The Scenario: Lowry leaves, Ibaka stays
With the luxury tax bill coming their way and Patrick McCaw waiting on deck, the Warriors may pass on giving Ian Clark his first big pay day.
Clark found a home in the Bay Area, where he gave the Warriors solid minutes off the bench. At 26, he’s not young, at least in NBA terms, but there’s clearly some untapped potential there. In Golden State, 36 percent of his minutes came at the point guard position, suggesting he may be able to stretch his legs as a secondary creator.
More importantly, Clark is a very solid shooter. He canned a cool 37.2 percent of his 5.2 three-point attempts per 36 minutes last season, and he was a knockdown shooter in college. He even finished last year in the 72nd percentile coming off of screens. His release is low and not particularly quick. The numbers paint a different picture, however.
Clark is also an instinctive cutter who can defend either guard position. Those skills make him a nice fit next to the ball-dominant and offensive-minded DeMar DeRozan (that’s a generous description, by the way). DeRozan could take on much of the ball-handling load, while Clark plays the Patrick Beverley role as a 3-and-D guard.
It’s tough to gauge Clark’s market. He might fit into the $8.4 million midlevel exception. Yet at the same time, teams are always willing to pay for unknown commodities from winning teams. Toronto should make an offer, though, because while it’s ill-advised to pay for mystery, it’s usually a good idea to pay for potential and fit.