The Toronto Raptors will be looking under every crevice for cheap talent with a somewhat high offensive ceiling as they try to improve their roster. This could bring them back to one of their most hated rivals in the Philadelphia 76ers, as they likely won’t bring their entire roster back.
The 76ers imploded against the Boston Celtics, with Joel Embiid and James Harden both playing well below the standard expected of them. The 76ers have big names in free agency, including Harden, and not all of them will be back next season.
If the Raptors want to use Philadelphia’s playoff slump to their advantage, they could target a player like Shake Milton in free agency. Milton, a firm rotation presence for Philly the past three seasons, is an unrestricted free agent who could cash in this offseason.
Milton won’t change your fortunes, but there’s a lot to like about his playing profile on a Raptors team that needs more young players who can shoot from 3-pointers. Milton won’t cost much to a Raptors team that will take care of its finances for the next few years.
Will the Toronto Raptors sign Shake Milton?
Milton averaged 8.4 points per game last season while making 48% of his shots from the field and 38% of his 3-pointers. The efficiency he has shown shows he could thrive on a Raptors team that could give him a longer leash on the offensive end than the star-heavy 76ers.
Milton fell out of rotation in the Boston series, but the fact that he and Jalen McDaniels didn’t play much in a series where they would have helped is more of a Doc Rivers indictment than anything. Milton is still a productive ball handler, shooter and creator at the NBA level.
Milton could be a solid mid-level standout target for the Raptors, as signing him to a contract isn’t all that different from what Otto Porter Jr. got after his move to Golden State might be the best for the Raptors. two parts. Surely it’s better to spin the back up leader wheel again and bet on Malachi Flynn.
Milton fell out of favor in Philadelphia, but a team like Toronto will give him a great landing spot to rejuvenate his career. Milton has proven to be a positive addition to Philly on the wing, according to Cleaning the Glass. This first big Milton 3-pointer at the Wells Fargo Center wearing Raptors colors will hit Daryl Morey where it hurts.
