Following the surprise announcement of LeBron James signing with Philadelphia, the Eastern Conference has arguably surpassed the West in competitiveness and talent. That being said, the Raptors’ biggest signing of the summer thus far was Kawhi Leonard. Despite the trade being put on hold, it still emphasizes the need to win for Raptors basketball as they pursue a second championship.
So with the Summer League concluding less than two weeks ago, there’s still a valuable number of players left on the market to make an impact on new squads. For Toronto to improve their win percentage from last season, they must address their flaws with shooting (35.4%) and rebounding (42.1%). As a result, I compiled a list of the preeminent free agents remaining on the market, and why they make sense for the Raptors’ current roster.
2 Free Agents that Can Benefit the Toronto Raptors in 2026
Nicolas Batum, F
We’ll begin with international forward Nicolas Batum, who’s established himself as a reliable veteran over the years. At 37 years old, Batum has proved he still has gas left in the tank, shooting a higher three-point percentage (40.4%) than Stephen Curry last season. And over 40% from the field. For a Raptors squad that struggled from deep last season, Batum helps the squad immensely with his effective spot-up shooting.
The 18-year veteran also shares prior chemistry alongside Leonard in Los Angeles.
Batum entered free agency after Los Angeles declined his $5.88 million team option. With his age only increasing, a contract around $3-5 million on a one-year deal is a low-risk, high-reward signing. Coming off the bench is needed for a player of his caliber to mentor fellow forwards like rookie Allen Graves, Ja’Kobe Walter, and A.J. Lawson.
I’d argue both sides can benefit from a signing like this due to Batum’s veteran presence and the strict schemes Darko Rajaković utilizes. However, Toronto must pursue efficiently, as Batum may strongly consider playing overseas.
Nick Richards, C
Nick Richards is coming off his most productive campaign since 2025, averaging 22.4 minutes on a 31-win Bulls squad. The Jamaican center was traded in a three-team deal this past season ahead of Feb. 5th’s deadline to Chicago. In 20 games suiting up for the Bulls, Richards shot 52.3% from the field, 27.8% from three, 7.6 total rebounds, and 1.7 total turnovers.
As of right now, Richards stands as a free agent with full Bird Rights, and given his athleticism and age, that should already interest several teams. But one that makes complete sense: the Toronto Raptors.
This past postseason, Toronto struggled to find a compatible player at center. Pursuing a center like Richards takes the stress off veteran Jakob Poeltl, given his hefty four-year contract and inconsistency. Poeltl became the team’s seventh-leading scorer against Cleveland, a two-spot plummet from the regular season. Despite his underwhelming performance in Round 1, Toronto also lost another reliable asset at center in Sandro Mamukelashvili to Los Angeles. This left a noticeable hole at interior depth.
The former 42nd overall pick in 2020 excels in the pick-and-roll scheme, defending, and knowing where to shift on the court. A feat so small, but it was the fuel of Toronto’s wins in high-tempo games.
The Last Word
Time is passing by until the Raptors’ first pre-season game. And with the offseason only at the tip of the iceberg, some players on the market could make meaningful impacts for cheap. Toronto doesn’t need much of an overhaul in signings, but just enough to complement Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and RJ Barrett.
Looking at the current depth chart, Richards’ interior strength and Batum’s shooting are the most compatible with the team, given their abilities and current salary cap situation.
Photo Credit: David Banks, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
