Detroit Pistons: 5 potential offseason targets from the Raptors
The Detroit Pistons will be scouring free agency, trades and the 2022 NBA Draft for upgrades in talent for next season.
Detroit will have some cap space at their disposal, two picks in the NBA Draft (so far) and a trade asset in Jerami Grant that they could use to get another first-round pick or a young player.
The Pistons only won 23 games this season but the way they closed out and the growth of their young players are indications that better days are on the way.
But the Detroit Pistons need help at shooting guard, could use another wing defender and definitely need to upgrade their center ranks.
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We’re looking at the playoff teams that have been eliminated to identify players who might be fits with the Detroit Pistons.
We’ve looked at:
- A possible trade target from the Minnesota Timberwolves
- 5 guys from the Atlanta Hawks who could be acquired in free agency or trades
- The Bulls, who have 6 potential targets for the Pistons
- Some targets from the Jazz
- 8 possible players from the Nets who could hit the market
Today we will look at the Toronto Raptors, who were beaten by the 76ers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and have a handful of players about to hit free agency, including two bench guys, two veteran defenders and one former player from the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: End-of-bench free agents from the Toronto Raptors
Yuta Watanabe: Restricted free agent
The 27-year-old from Japan played sparingly this season, appearing in 38 games for the Raptors. He has good size for the small forward position at 6-foot-9 and he can shoot from long range. He has a QO of $2.2 million and it’s likely that the Raptors let him walk. He’d be an option on a minimum deal to fill the Rodney McGruder spot with a shooter.
Isaac Bonga: Unrestricted free agent
Bonga was a second-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and only appeared in 15 games this season, fewest of his career. He is an intriguing prospect at 22-years-old, as he has outstanding length and has been used as a primary ball handler at times in his career at 6-foot-9. He has flashed signs of being able to shoot and defend but they’ve just been flashes. He has a lot of potential but lacks skill at about everything and isn’t the greatest athlete even though he has nearly a 9-foot standing reach. He’s still young enough to develop and will likely be on a minimum deal, if not a two-way.