All eyes are on the 2026 NBA Finals now as the ultimate showdown between New York and San Antonio takes center stage.
What a blockbuster it turned out to be in Game 1 as the Knicks stole a win on the road, crushing the Spurs in a late rally spearheaded by Jalen Brunson to pull off the victory. A crucial Game 2 awaits shortly, still on the Spurs' home soil, as another soul-snatching defeat could spell disaster for them if they enter Madison Square Garden on an 0-2 deficit.
While we revel in the excitement that is Finals hoops, it also serves noting which players on these respective teams could be looking for new homes in the summer. In the case of Toronto, I'm sure they are one of those teams watching in closely at the names doing battle in the pinnacle of NBA glory, potentially working a path to add them into the Raptors' organization with that wealth of experience.
And as it stands, there are actually a few names collectively on these two Finals rosters who are set to hit unrestricted free agency in the coming months.
Although Toronto doesn't have an immense amount of money to work with, given their expensive core, they still have the luxury of a mid-level exception (barring if they use it on retaining Sandro Mamukelashvili) or offering minimum contracts. Remember, even if it was a while ago and under different circumstances, the Raptors managed to sign Otto Porter Jr. in free agency in 2022, shortly after he won a title with the Warriors.
Who are these potential targets from the Knicks and Spurs? Let's jump right in and take a look.
Four 2026 NBA Finals players the Raptors could target this summer
Landry Shamet – (G) New York Knicks
The now 29-year-old Landry Shamet has carved out almost a journeyman NBA career since entering the league back in 2018, but one thing has remained certained for most of his tenure, and that's his stout three-point shooting prowess. Shamet is a career 38.6 percent shooter from deep.
He's been part of the 76ers, Clippers, Nets, Suns, WIzards, and now, the Knicks. Even in his limited role with New York, Shamet has proven to be quite the valuable 3-and-D vet wing to have off your bench. This past year, he averaged 9.3 points in about 23.0 minutes of action per night. Likewise, Shamet has hovered near the 40 percent clip mark with New York for his past two stints now, finishing at 39.7 percent in 2024-25 and slightly down to 39.2 percent in 2025-26.
A guy who can hold his own defensively and literally plugging him in at any point to let the three-ball fly — that honestly sounds like a Raptors fan's dream (it definitely piques my interest). The only concern here however will be Shamet's asking price. I doubt he'd ask for a hefty sum, but given his history of being a key contributor on several winning squads and universal appeal, it could draw the Raptors out of the sweepstakes if they're unable to secure him within budget.
Nevertheless, he remains arguably the top candidate of the Finals bunch to keep watch of.
Jordan Clarkson – (G) New York Knicks
We may be a couple years removed from Jordan Clarkson's peak days as a former Sixth Man of the Year winner, but I see to it that he's still a worthwhile vet to have around on your roster even as he's just about to turn 34 years old.
Clarkson signed with the Knicks in free agency last summer, after a six-season stint with the Utah Jazz where he had arguably his best NBA years. However, his production and value took a bit of a dip as he slotted into a reduced role with New York, but still averaged a servicable 8.6 points on 45.1 percent shooting.
Clarkson is a bit streaky as a three-point shooter, which is definitely means for concern as a Raptors fan. But he's had more than his fair share of offensive bursts in years past where he can dig a stagnating offense out the hole.
Yes, I get that those best days are proabably ahead of him. Although, I can definitely buy into the allure as a vet minimum option who can still play meaningful minutes, has potential to be a fan favorite among Toronto's large Filipino community, and even being a mentor-figure for someone like Ja'Kobe Walter, perhaps.
Mitchell Robinson – (C) New York Knicks
Toronto is in desperate need of proven rim-protection and a better defensive insurance policy at the five spot to suffice for a struggling Jakob Poeltl.
Now, I don't know if the injury-prone Mitchell Robinson gives an elite level of confidence there, but in terms of taking a swing on an burly interior presence — the 28-year-old center fits that billing. Spending his entire career with the Knicks since entering the NBA, Robinson has averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in eight seasons with New York.
You can't play a ton of minutes to Robinson, seeing as he's a spacing and free throw liability, but for what he does actually bring to the table, he's not too shabby at all there. Robinson can secure boards at an elite rate (something that came to haunt the Raptors, especially in the postseason), block shots at the rim, and is a perfect rim-running lob threat for Toronto's style of play.
I'm not entirely sure what Robinson's next NBA deal will look like as he winds down on a final $15 million price tag, but I think Toronto would entertain some level of interest if he's available at the right price. Perhaps you can make the argument that Toronto should focus on a more dynamic option at the center spot like Jock Landale in free agency, but to have a battle-tested target like Robinson on your radar isn't a bad idea either.
Harrison Barnes – (F) San Antonio Spurs
The lone Spur to appear on this list is actually a name that my fellow Raptors Rapture colleague, Josh Elijah Nitsopoulos, explored in his piece looking at Mamu free agency alternatives.
And I'm all for the potential pairing too.
I've always been a firm believer in having well-experienced veterans bridge that gap on a young, rising roster. Harrison Barnes has done it before in Sacramento and he has continued to be just that for his current San Antonio Spurs squad too, even if his role has fluctuated recently. He's a former NBA champion, having won a title in 2015 with the Warrirors, and a 14-year veteran now at this point — more than enough miles logged to warrant grizzled vet status.
Much like I pointed out about Landry Shamet earlier, Harrison Barnes is another key three-point threat, as a career 38.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc. In the 2024-25 campaign, he shot a tremendous 43.3 percent from deep with the Spurs, while it dropped back to around his average at 38.8 percent (which is still superb).
In all honesty, out of all these options listed, I envision Barnes as almost the prototypical Raptors signing. He's a 6-foot-7 forward that can play either position, and while he follows the Raptors' tantalizing trend of favoring wings, it's that stout three point ability that separates him from experiments in years past like Thaddeus Young, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, or Juancho Hernangomez.
Barnes could fit perfectly as that locker room presence who can still show up in key games for the Raptors too. Mind you, despite being in his mid-30s now, Barnes has been a relatively healthy and active player for his teams. That combination of longevity, championship DNA, and respect among his peers makes Toronto the perfect landing spot for him.
