Toronto raptos and a Stretch 4

The Raps need a stretch 4 who can score and defend.  Toronto needs to improve or they will never be able to beat the Cavs over the next couple 3 years

Milsap of Atlanta is the best bet but Atlanta wont trade him anymore.  yet even if he is traded he is likely to be too expensive for the Raps because he does not have a contract.  he is a free agent next season.  so Toronto will have to give up a lot to get him then pay him a giant salary to keep him around.

another player who would fit the bill for Toronto in a big way would be Cousins from Sacremento.  he would cost even more than Milsap and comes with the rep of a bad boy.

I don't care about the bad boy rep only that Cousins is a terrific player who would most certainly take the Raps over.

my real concern would be that the Raps pay so much that to plug the stretch 4 hole we create other holes.  that to my mind would make any and all trades moot and I would give up on this year while trying to make a quality stretch 4 from inside the talent pool the Raps now have.

that would focus on the Talents of Pascal Siakam/Lucas Nogueira for development into quality stretch 4'

also a focus on the draft for a quality rookie stretch 4 even if they have to trade up for a shot.  that is where I would use some of the talent the Raps have  in a trade...trade in the draft to get a shot at a quality rookie

one seeming problem however:

if the Raps do not improve this year they are likely to be surpassed by the end of this season by 2 - possibly 3 teams in the East...Philadelphia, Boston and Milwaukee.  Toronto is likely to be no better than fifth place by June.

so this year is beginning to look like a fall back year for Toronto, hopefully to go forward again next season if the team core is kept together and improved with the addition of a scoring power forward who can stretch the floor and defend like a pro

Jared Sullinger also on the Raps roster can make a difference at the 4.  but Boston gave up on him due to weight problems.

he came to Toronto and promptly got injured and has only now returned to playing status.

for obvious reasons I dont hold out great expectations from that player

I agree .

It is evident that player is required.

The org cannot try and cut cost .Spend the money.