Raptors spring Mailbag Part 2: Free agency targets, Gradey Dick's ceiling and more

Here's the aforementioned overflow Raptors mailbag, since the mail sack was too full last time (thanks for that).

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Another basketball mailbag will arrive soo after we find out what happens at the May 12 NBA draft lottery.

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First, a mea culpa: Was so fixated on the Bruce Brown saga during the season I conflated in-season rules with off-season ones regarding his contract.

I said in the previous mailbag a team looking to shed salary could pick up his unguaranteed contract for a guaranteed one they were looking to shed (and could grease the wheels with a draft pick or two, or a prospect), but that was only correct during the season.

Toronto couldn't find a deal to its liking, so that option is now out the window because we are on to the 2024-25 season, trade-wise.

Any team options have to be picked up at this point, unlike at the trade deadline when a deal I posited could have been made. There are still options for Toronto as a team might want to add Brown for a year (even though he'll be paid more for 2024-25 than he'd likely command annually on a new multi-year deal).

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That would give a contender a proven veteran contributor who helped Denver win the title, plus early Bird rights, which would make it easier to re-sign him in the summer of 2025 (though not full Bird rights, which make it way easier to retain a free agent).

The Raptors could also just decline the option and either use cap space to target a free agent (which likely would mean Gary Trent Jr. isn't back, either) or they could use a trade exception (they have two) to take on a bad contract and assets (like the idea I had for Brown in-season that didn't pan out).

This week's questions:

DAN B: "What is Gradey Dick's realistic ceiling as a player and what would he need to add to his game to become an all-star?"

R.W. Also got a question about stat expectations for Dick next season. A lot of next year depends on if Trent returns/if a veteran is signed who will take a lot of minute away.

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Dick is probably a shooting guard long-term, but also he will play plenty at small forward. Last year, he only played 25% of the time at SG though, per basketball-reference.com.

Guard is a huge position of need if you consider Dick and RJ Barrett — both 6-foot-6, but Barrett's obviously way bulkier and stronger — more suited to forward (Barrett's spent 58% of his NBA playing time at SF and 5% at PF).

If Quickley-Dick-Barrett-Barnes-Poeltl is the starting group, Dick will get a lot of minutes and a lot of open shots. I think to make that front court work, you'd need elite shooters at the guard spot, which means Quickley and Dick or maybe even Quickley and Trent. All are capable of being 40% three-point shooters and 45% or better from the corners.

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His ceiling is probably Gordon Hayward, maybe a bigger Kevin Huerter. He needs to keep borrowing from great players like Reggie Miller, Klay Thompson and Peja Stojakovic, especially how they moved off-ball, but I think he'll be a solid starter one day.

SEAN: "Who should the Raps target in a trade or free agency?"

R.W. The priority should be retaining Quickley on a reasonable deal (starting at around $25 million a season) and would think they'd match any offer.

Not sure there's anyone worth grabbing this year, to be honest (if it means losing Brown and Trent outright). It's also unclear until the lottery which direction the Raptors will go next season.

They could punt a signing to next year (though the big Barnes extension will have kicked in). This year I'd only target a free agent that fits a long-term plan.

Isiah Hartenstein is a big man I've liked since long before he broke out this season. He'd work and fill a big need behind (or even eventually replacing) Poeltl.

Tyus Jones makes some sense, but might be too old and not happy to be a backup (he and Quickley would be too small together).

I'd consider a swing on former high lottery pick Isaac Okoro (but maybe there isn't room for him and Ochai Agbaji in the search for a poor man's OG Anunoby).

Love Deanthony Melton, but he's hurt a lot and probably will have better options.

Naji Marshall also intrigues and New Orleans has too much talent, too high a payroll and not enough room for all of those players.

So, to sum up, Marshall and Hartenstein would be my top targets.

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DAN M: "How stupid, on a scale of 1 to 10, is Jontay Porter? And was the punishment fair?"

R.W: We don't know all the facts, but the NBA banned him for a reason so let's assume his alleged acts were really, really dumb. I'll go with a 9.

ED: "What's going to be the formula to rebuild the Raptors into a competitive team for next season?"

R.W. It's not happening for next season unless they win the lottery and the guy they pick is way better now than anyone on the planet thinks. Plus, Barnes would have to take another leap to superstar and everyone would have to stay healthy.

For the longer-term, they need Barnes to keep getting better, the pick from this year or next (depending on which one the Spurs get) has to become a starter, minimum, and would be nice if they can hit on one of the other picks from Indiana (later in this year's draft or sometime in 2026) or the Pistons pick (31st this year).

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JEFF: "What is their five-year plan and do they consider themselves currently in a rebuilding phase?"

R.W. Again, depends on what happens at the lottery, but yes they do consider themselves in a rebuilding phase.

Five-year plan is to be a championship contender, but there's a long way to go to get there.

They probably don't make playoffs next two seasons, then want to make it Year 3, win a round Year 4 and be in mix after that.

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