The Raptors, based on their current impending luxury-tax bill, saved $705,439 by trading Bruno Caboclo for Malachi Richardson rather than letting Caboclo’s contract expire and replacing him with a minimum-salary free agent. If Toronto sheds salary to lower its luxury-tax rate, the savings would be even greater.
And that’s probably where Richardson’s impact with the Raptors will end.
Michael Scotto of The Athletic:
The Toronto Raptors will decline the fourth-year option on Malachi Richardson, The Athletic has learned. Richardson, the No. 22 pick of the 2016 draft, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 31, 2018
It’s far too soon to close the book on Richardson’s NBA career. He’s just 22, and the league is starving for wings.
The Raptors could even re-sign him, though they can offer a starting salary up to only Richardson’s team-option amount ($2,581,597).
But declining the option shows what Toronto thinks of him. He just doesn’t stand out enough on this exceptionally deep team, especially because the Raptors could face the luxury tax next season if Kawhi Leonard re-signs.
