The Raptors parted with several veterans during the 2017 offseason, relying on young players to take their spots in the rotation. That approach was a massive success, as Toronto’s five-man bench unit evolved into one of the NBA’s best. However, the team found itself in a familiar spot this spring, swept out of the playoffs by the Cavaliers for a second straight year. Now the cap-strapped Raps will have to try once again to figure out a way to improve their roster’s postseason ceiling.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Raptors financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2018:
Guaranteed Salary
- Kyle Lowry ($31,000,000)
- DeMar DeRozan ($27,739,975)
- Serge Ibaka ($21,666,667)
- Jonas Valanciunas ($16,539,326)
- Norman Powell ($9,367,200)
- C.J. Miles ($8,333,333)
- Jakob Poeltl ($2,947,320)
- Delon Wright ($2,536,898)
- OG Anunoby ($1,952,760)
- Malachi Richardson ($1,569,360)
- Pascal Siakam ($1,544,951)
- Justin Hamilton ($1,000,000) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $126,197,790
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Alfonzo McKinnie ($1,378,242)1
- Total: $1,378,242
Restricted Free Agents
- Lucas Nogueira ($4,140,964 qualifying offer / $8,841,915 cap hold): Bird rights
- Fred VanVleet ($1,699,698 qualifying offer / $1,699,698 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Total: $10,541,613
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Lorenzo Brown ($1,499,698): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $1,499,698
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Projected Cap Room: None
- The Raptors have more than $126MM in guaranteed salaries on their books before even accounting for a raise for VanVleet. Ownership would likely be willing to foot a luxury tax bill for a title contender, but after a second consecutive second-round playoff exit, the Raps can’t afford to just run things back with the same group. Toronto may look to move a contract or two to cut costs this summer.
Footnotes:
- McKinnie’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 20.
Note: Rookie scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Offseason Outlook: Cymbalta