The Raptors have done their financial ciphering and know what they’d be comfortable paying two key free agents, while also conducting the requisite due diligence should either or both of Fred VanVleet and Jakob Poeltl seek NBA employment elsewhere.
It is a delicate time of year for the team’s brain trust with president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster juggling any number of scenarios for the moment free-agent talks can officially begin Friday at 6 p.m.
Their preferred scenario would be to bring back both the veteran point guard and centre, and tinker on the periphery of a roster that still lacks shooting and backcourt depth.