Rules tip: When you have an optional effect, and it isn't kicker or a modal spell like Piracy Charm, try not to make new targets. This is because kicker and modal spells specifically remove the text from the spell if you're not choosing that, but others don't have that luxury.

This means that this spell will always need to target a spell and a creature. You couldn't cast it on an empty board.

In this case, because the regular effect has a target, you could use the ugly "up to one target" to try to solve the issue.