The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors could have some targets in sight from the buyout market, after staying relatively mute through a busy trade deadline.
According to Michael Grange of Rogers SportsNet, the Raptors could seek out the likes of Channing Frye (recently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers) and Ersan Ilyasova — two sharp-shooting forwards that could stretch the floor for them through the last 26 games of the season.
“They have an open roster spot and they’ve hinted that the buyout market is [where they’ll look to make an addition],” said Grange as a guest of The HoopsHype Podcast. In terms of names or needs, they need three-point shooting – just like pretty much every team does. They miss a lot of open threes. That’s somewhere they really struggle. If they can add a Channing Frye or Ersan Ilyasova, those are guys who could play some minutes for them and you have to respect those guys [from three-point range].”
“There’s a few names out there. They’re anticipating that there will be a few players who get bought out that will surprise some people. They’re definitely digging around and they’re ready to [add someone]. They have the roster spot and they have the money with their bi-annual exception.”
The team has shown vast improvement by taking the focus away from Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan while thriving in a share-the-wealth principle, which has made latter into a better playmaker who has given the likes of Jonas Valanciunas and C.J. Miles more room to thrive within this offense.
Having a veteran like Frye or an Ilyasova behind shot-blocking stud Serge Ibaka could give the Raptors that much more depth, as they are still able to shoot the ball from deep once the lane collapses and this All-Star backcourt can still find the open man.
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