The Toronto Raptors will now turn their attention to NBA Free Agency after parting ways with team president Masai Ujiri.
Although the Raptors are very limited with cap space, they have been linked to former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, per Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.
Simmons is set to hit unrestricted free agency after finishing the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors have 3 more spots to fill. Those spots will likely go to Jamison Battle, Alijah Martin and another player on a minimum contract.
That’s where the Raptors can take a swing on Simmons. However, the fit wouldn’t make much sense. The Raptors need a backup center and Simmons is not normally played as a center and has usually been the only point guard on the floor throughout his career.
Simmons shot 43.4 percent from the floor in 18 games last season and didn’t attempt a three. Bringing on another wing who can’t shoot wouldn’t be ideal for the Raptors.
Overall, Simmons averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Clippers last season.
During the Clippers’ opening round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Simmons barely played, as he averaged only 1.4 rebounds in a little over 8 minutes in 5 games.
Barring a trade, it should be a quiet free agency period for the Raptors. After the team signed Garrett Temple, they have 12 players on guaranteed contract, all of their three two-ways filled and they are already hovering around the tax with 2-3 spots left to fill.
Raptors re-signs Garrett Temple
The Toronto Raptors are bringing back Garrett Temple for another season.
Temple agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Raptors, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
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