The Raptors should have just over $22 million U.S. to spend, if the team’s many free agents (including starter Amir Johnson and sixth man of the year winner Lou Williams) have their rights renounced.
That’s enough to give the maximum of $15.8 million to a player with up to six years of service, and then a good chunk to another impact performer.
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri also could swing a deal involving part of his core. Whispers continue to circulate that DeMar DeRozan’s camp will be after the new mid-max (a whopping $25.3 million) a year from now and there is no way the Raptors will be comfortable footing that bid.