With simply two weeks till the NBA commerce deadline, the Toronto Raptors discover themselves at a vital crossroads. Sitting under the luxurious tax and dealing with main roster choices, each transfer or lack of motion might form not solely this season, but additionally the workforce’s long-term outlook. From monetary flexibility to the potential affect of a excessive draft choose, these are 4 key numbers the Raptors want to remember as they method the commerce market and put together for the longer term.
No. 1: $10 million
The Raptors are at the moment $10.02 million under the luxurious tax threshold this season. This determine constitutes a transparent line that the workforce will probably be reluctant to cross in commerce discussions over the approaching weeks. Whereas they’ve the chance to recoup some cash in a deal, Toronto is extremely unlikely to exceed the $10 million margin to keep away from dipping into the luxurious tax.
Due to their unused non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the Raptors technically have entry to the total quantity. Nonetheless, the workforce will probably need to retain some flexibility for later strikes. Whether or not it is a typical contract provide for Jamison Battle or a collection of 10-day offers, Toronto will probably reserve round $1 million of that house for late-season offers.
No. 2: $150.7 million
The Raptors at the moment have $150.7 million out there for subsequent season’s roster. That complete covers 10 gamers, with Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher, Davion Mitchell and Garrett Temple all set to come back off the books. This quantity might differ barely relying on the specifics of Scottie Barnes’ contract, which is able to symbolize 25 % of the wage cap. For now, this quantity gives a stable snapshot of Toronto’s monetary state of affairs heading into subsequent yr.
No. 3: $37.2 million
With an estimated luxurious tax of $188 million subsequent season, the Raptors have about $37.2 million to fill out the remainder of their roster subsequent yr. This quantity will probably be used to signal draft picks and fill 5 open roster spots, both by means of extensions or new contracts for the 4 aforementioned gamers whose contracts are expiring, or by means of the addition of free brokers. This determine might fluctuate if the workforce trades a participant with a number of years remaining on his contract, but it surely gives a transparent baseline for Toronto’s flexibility in 2025.
No. 4: Round $20 million
Whereas that is an estimate, touchdown a top-four choose on this yr’s draft would value the Raptors between $10 million and $14 million to draft that participant. On prime of that, signing Toronto’s solely second-round choose would add one other $2 million. Assuming the Raptors additionally signal one or two gamers to minimal contracts of round $2 million every and allocate funds to coaching camp gamers, Toronto has round $20 million in wiggle room. to work under the luxurious tax threshold for subsequent yr.
This quantity is essential as a result of it’ll decide how a lot long-term wage the Raptors can afford to simply accept in commerce talks at this yr’s commerce deadline. It additionally highlights the challenges of shifting expiring contracts like Bruce Brown’s. Groups seeking to take care of expiring contracts typically intention to scale back long-term wage, and even when Toronto has the flexibleness to tackle a few of that, the group probably is not prepared to go over $20 million. {dollars} in commitments for subsequent season. That would go away them dangerously near the luxurious tax threshold.
