Toronto Raptors: 5 potential free agency targets if the core leaves
By Nate Wolf
2. Otto Porter Jr., SF
The Scenario: Both Lowry and Ibaka leave
Otto Porter is the most complicated and unlikely free agency candidate on this list. A ton would have to break wrong (like Lowry and Ibaka dashing for the door) and then right for Porter to end up in Toronto. But it’s possible, so he’s on this list.
There’s only one way Porter doesn’t get a max or near-max deal from the Wizards, who own his matching rights. If the Wizards feel they can snag a marquee player in a trade – someone like Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, or DeAndre Jordan – they will be hesitant to match a huge offer sheet for Porter.
Told Wizards will get first shot at locking up Otto Porter. But knowing his representation, they better not mess around & try to negotiate.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 29, 2017
If that scenario plays out, Toronto should swoop in. Porter is, theoretically, the exact kind of wing the Raptors need. With a sweet shooting stroke and 6’8” size, he’s already an excellent complementary player. Mix those skills with decent athleticism and legitimate youth (Porter just turned 24), and you get a player with clear potential as a second or third option.
Porter could switch to the 4 in small lineups with both DeRozan and Norman Powell, or he could stay on the wing to cover the other team’s top option. He’s not a lockdown defender, but he’s better than DeMarre Carroll, who was supposed to be Toronto’s 3-and-D stud.
The Raptors would have to shed salary to afford Porter. Ujiri, though, would gladly attach a second round pick to Carroll or even Jonas Valanciunas to dump their respective contracts. Obviously, this option is purely circumstantial. That said, if the Raptors lose big on July 1 or 2, they can still try to win big on the 3rd or 4th.