A column by Grantland’s Zach Lowe has indicated that SF Nicolas Batum is interested in playing for the Toronto Raptors. Batum is a free agent next offseason. He was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets from the Portland Trail Blazers, where he had some solid seasons alongside LaMarcus Aldridge.
Batum is an impending unrestricted free agent on a borderline playoff team, diving into an unprecedented cap frenzy in which two-dozen suitors could offer $20 million per season. Batum’s people have already made noise about how much Batum would like to play in Toronto, a city that appeals to his international roots, per several league sources.
I am not so sure how likely this is, with DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas looking to cash in next summer as well. With the addition of Demarre Carroll, this doesn’t make too much sense. Still, it’s a positive that Toronto is becoming a destination for solid free agents.
