The Toronto Raptors are expected to aggressively pursue free-agent power forward Dirk Nowitzki and a trade for Nerlens Noel after failing to bring in any of the marquee free-agent big man North of the Border.
The Raptors, who easily secured the service of DeMar DeRozan after signing him to a four-year max deal, is still struggling to get top-tier free-agents despite reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season.
According to multiple reports, the Raps tried to sign sweet shooting forward Ryan Anderson and retain Bismack Biyombo, but failed to do so because of their steep asking price.
Anderson wound up with the Houston Rockets on a four-year, $80 million deal, while Biyombo banked on his strong performance in the playoffs to earn a four-year, $72 million contract with the Orlando Magic.
The Raptors will then shift their attention to possibly luring Nowitzki out of Dallas.
The future Hall of Famer opted out of the final year of his deal to see how the Mavericks build a championship-contender through free-agency. Unfortunately, the Mavs once again struck out on their target free-agents, losing the Hassan Whiteside sweepstakes to the Miami Heat and Chandler Parsons to the Memphis Grizzlies.
At 38, Dirk's championship window is closing fast, thus getting that second championship ring won't be possibly anymore with the Mavs, not with their current roster.
According to several analysts, the Raptors emerge as the top landing spot for Nowitzki because of his affiliation with former Mavs assistant Dwayne Casey and the system they are currently running.
Even in the twilight years of his careers, Nowitzki (18.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) is still considered an upgrade over last year starter Luis Scola at the power forward position.
The Raptors have also contacted the Philadelphia 76ers in an attempt to make a deal for defensive specialist Nerlens Noel. The third-year big man averaged at least 11 points, 8 boards and 1 block per game with the Sixers, who have been looking for ways to solve their frontline log-jam with Ben Simmons, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid.