Three things the Raptors should do in the offseason

It’s been almost a month since the 2023-24 NBA season for the Toronto Raptors ended. And if you describe the season as a roller-coaster ride, I would say that’s an understatement because it was more of a bad roller-coaster ride.

The Raptors are currently in a rebuild. So, the chances of a postseason run next year are slim to none and that’s okay. But that doesn’t mean Toronto doesn’t need to make too many changes to its roster because they do. So, here are three things that the Raptors must do this offseason.

What should the Raptors do with Bruce Brown?

The first thing that Toronto should do is decide what they do with Bruce Brown Jr. Brown’s contract is team-friendly because he has a team option on his contract. This gives them financial and roster flexibility. So, the question they must answer in the summer is do they trade him, keep him, or decline his team option.

Declining Brown’s team option is the easiest way to give the Raptors financial and roster flexibility. But Brown is a good player with value in the NBA. It’s not the wisest move to let him go for nothing.

This is why keeping Brown or trading him to another team is the better option. If Toronto keeps Brown, he would be helpful as he can be a veteran to this young team. He’s also a good three-and-d player, so he can help get some wins for this team.

If the Raptors trade him to another team this summer, they could get draft assets plus a player or two in a reasonable contract. Toronto doesn’t need to trade him right away; they can wait until the trade deadline.

What are the other two things the Raptors should do in the offseason?

The second thing the Raptors should do in the off-season is trade Jakob Poeltl. Poeltl can help contenders instead of being in a rebuilding team. This summer, he’s in the second year of his four-year $ 78 million contract. That would get a decent package.

As long as there is a first-round pick involved I’m okay with whatever else are the other returns because the Raptors might potentially lose their lottery pick to the San Antonio Spurs since they traded that pick to get Poeltl.

The third thing that Toronto should do is stay on the rebuilding course. Do not fast-track the rebuild just an All-Star is available. They should stay where they are especially when a potential franchise-changing player in Cooper Flagg going to the NBA draft in 2025.

Those are the three things that the Toronto Raptors should do in the offseason. They should re-sign Immanuel Quickley and extend Scottie Barnes‘ contract but that’s a foregone conclusion. The other three things I mentioned have a less likely outcome.