Remembering when Raptors made biggest free agency signing and it went nowhere

"I was just thinking about this over the last few days too, especially as I've been pondering the idea of Toronto's top free agent acquisition in franchise history. Of course, recency bias would have the general Raptors fans assuming Brandon Ingram is the team's best free agency get, but that extension was only offered to BI after he came over to Toronto via trade; so technically, he doesn't count in this case."

"No, I'm talking about a player who made it clear they wanted to be in Toronto out of all the possible destinations, and if that criterion is to be followed then the clear number one answer in this case is DeMarre Carroll ... isn't that quite the name to pull out of the Raptors alumni hat? Before signing with the Raptors in 2015 free agency, Carroll had made a name for himself as part of the Atlanta Hawks, a highly talented team that, despite its skill, couldn't quite get over the hump. That team featured players like Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Paul Millsap, and Kyle Korver. Being the Hawks' primary 3-and-D wing, it served as a no-brainer when Toronto threw a four-year, $60 million contract for his services, to which Carroll accepted."

"Unfortunately for Raptors fans, the hope that Carroll could help Toronto as a perimeter defender with a decent jump shot - someone who could arguably guard a LeBron James destroyer in the playoffs- just did not come to fruition. Carroll struggled mightily in Toronto, facing major injury setbacks in his first year with the Raptors, and he never quite lived up to the cost paid for his services. Not to mention in the playoffs, where Carroll's services would've been greatly appreciated, he was borderline unplayable because of his sudden dropoff."

DeMarre Carroll joined the Toronto Raptors in 2015 on a four-year, $60 million free-agent contract after establishing himself as a 3-and-D wing with the Atlanta Hawks. Carroll was expected to provide perimeter defense and reliable outside shooting, and the contract reflected those expectations. Carroll experienced major injury setbacks in his first year in Toronto and struggled to meet the team's needs. Performance dropped significantly in playoffs, rendering him nearly unplayable in crucial moments. The combination of injuries, uneven production, and high salary produced widespread disappointment relative to the initial hopes for the signing.

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