Raptors reportedly showing interest in Greg Monroe

The Toronto Raptors have an impressive roster: They can start Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, OG Anunoby, and Jonas Valanciunas, bringing Serge Ibaka, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, C.J. Miles and more off the bench (they had the best second unit in the NBA last season). That roster can both get buckets and defend at a high level.

But they need a little more depth at the five, ideally defensive minded but at this point they need to take what they can get. Enter Greg Monroe, reports Josh Lewenberg of TSN.

With 13 players on guaranteed or partially-guaranteed deals, the Raptors are looking to fill that 14th spot with another big and have shown interest in a number of available players, including former Pistons centre , according to league sources. Monroe, one of the biggest names left on the market, wouldn’t address their most pressing frontcourt need - rim protection - but could give Toronto another experienced and gifted scorer, and some more depth, off the bench. They can use the smaller mid-level exception of up to $5.3 million to sign another player, if they choose, although they’re already projected to pay a sizeable luxury tax bix, and may decide to fill out the roster with more cost efficient options.

Monroe’s game is old-school — below-the-rim — but efficient. He can post up, get buckets inside, and grab some boards. It may not be a perfect fit with the Raptors, but he could have a role.

However the Raptors round out their roster, if Leonard is fully healthy and back to MVP-level form this is a challenger to Boston and a team as good as anyone in the East. A legit contender.