Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Knicks, Morey, Celtics

Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri faces several intriguing free agent decisions this Friday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN. The choice that could indicate how Ujiri intends to approach what could be a loaded free agent class in 2021 — even without Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo — is how Ujiri and his front office intend to approach a potential contract extension for fourth-year small forward OG Anunoby.

Anunoby is eligible for a rookie contract extension this season. Depending on how much his play improves this season, he could be more affordable were the Raptors to extend him now than if they were to let him hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2021. An extension now, however, would cut into the team’s cap space ahead of next summer.

The club also has to consider valuable free agents Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol, as well as promising young center Chris Boucher. There has been chatter for a while that the 35-year-old Gasol may head soon to Spain to finish his basketball career, making Ibaka that much more valuable to retain for the Raptors.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division ahead of the NBA draft today:

  • After packaging the Nos. 27 and 38 picks to the Jazz for the No. 23 pick in this year’s draft, the Knicks may be looking to use the No. 23 pick to help them trade up even further. The Knicks have talked with the Cavaliers about trading their Nos. 8 and 23 for Cleveland’s No. 5 pick. However, Kelsey Russo of The Athletic tweets that Cleveland is holding out for more value.
  • New Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has five draft picks to play with for his first draft with his new club. Rich Hoffman and Derek Bodner  of The Athletic take a look at several realistic options the team could draft.
  • With a current commitment to 16 players on their roster, the Celtics are looking to offload some of their three draft picks this season, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. The Celtics would could achieve this by packaging their Nos. 14, 26, and 30 picks to move into the top 10. As we previously detailed, Boston could be looking to move as high as the top three. Alternately, the team could perhaps look to flip the No. 14 pick for a future first-rounder and use the lower two picks as draft-and-stash options, or trade the lower picks along with little-used role players.
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