NBA FREE AGENCY: Raptors bring back Garrett Temple for 1 year, $3.3 million

Garrett Temple will return to the Raptors, giving life advice to young players and fashion tips to the rest.

The NBA’s best-dressed player is staying in Toronto.

The Toronto Raptors locked up the final roster spot* by making its only free-agency move and bringing back Garrett Temple on a 1 year, $3.3 million deal. The 14-year veteran will continue as a vocal leader in the locker room and mentor to the young players.

*Assuming Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead are signed, Temple would be Toronto’s 15th roster spot.

Boy, do the Raptors have a lot of young players!

Temple is one of only three Raptors over the age of 30. Most of Toronto’s core of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, and Ja’Kobe Walter are all between the ages of 21 and 25. Each of those players will be asked to step up in ways they’ve never had to before. Having a veteran presence like Temple in the locker room will go a long way in ensuring Toronto’s young players are headed in the right direction.

It didn’t even matter that he was an unrestricted free agent, Temple has never stopped being a Raptor. He was with the team while they worked out various draft candidates.

Regarding free agency, some deals are foregone conclusions (like Scottie Barnes getting a max extension), while others have ulterior motives (like Bruce Brown’s team option being exercised). Temple’s re-signing has an obvious benefit, especially with the development of the incoming draft class, but may also have another meaning. If the Raptors start next season with a poor record, many will be calling for a tank, as the 2025 draft is stockpiled with an abundance of star talent. It certainly doesn’t hurt to also own your draft pick!

Toronto could have filled the final roster spot with a backup Center (sorry Kelly Olynyk) or a more conventional backup Point Guard (sorry Davion Mitchell). However, the Raptors elected to go with a 38-year-old player who has been a starter in only 40% of his career games. Insert Brian Windhorst thinking meme.

What if Temple’s signing has an ulterior motive: don’t improve the roster, ensure Toronto has better lottery odds, and hope Cooper Flagg is wearing a Raptors uniform next season? With Boston looking unbeatable, Philadelphia owning the latest and greatest Big 3, and New York constructing a juggernaut, vying for a spot in the play-in tournament is fool’s gold.

The Raptors are headed for a long season. Having a veteran like Temple around to keep the ship from capsizing is the safest of safe bets.