5 teams that could steal Josh Richardson from the Pelicans

4. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have many decisions regarding their free agents and extension-eligible players to make this summer. After they kept their roster together at the trade deadline and added Jakob Poeltl, it looks like they are still trying to compete rather than rebuild around Scottie Barnes. If that is indeed the case, the Raptors need more shooting and bench production.

Only O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. shot better than 37 percent from three, and the Raptors’ bench ranked last in minutes played per game and second-last in points per game. Richardson could provide versatile defensive minutes, three-point shooting, and solid scoring as a reliable option off the bench. Having a more productive and trustworthy bench would not only make the team more competitive but also take some pressure off the starters.

All these needs become even more pressing if Gary Trent Jr. decides to leave in free agency and pursue a bigger contract. This is not entirely unlikely, meaning that the Raptors might have to find a way to replace his two-way play. While Richardson does not produce as much as Trent, he would be a cheaper option that would open up the opportunity to give Barnes extra touches to develop his game and the money to potentially bring someone else in.