DESPITE SITTING FOURTH IN THE EAST, THE TEAM STILL LOOKS FAR FROM TRUE TITLE CONTENTION
After two consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, the Toronto Raptors had moved into the depressing stages of an NBA rebuild. Although necessary, these times can be tough on fanbases, with engagement dropping as the losses pile up.
Fortunately, our glorious prince, Scottie Barnes, has arrived! Toronto basketball is back, baby! With the Raptors’ recent and exciting return to form, holding the fourth seed in the East, many fans are tuning back in to support the squad. Nevertheless, with more trades rumoured to be around the corner and the lack of a cemented centre bogging down momentum, fans are left asking themselves if any of this will matter?
In case you tuned out after 2019
For those of you who are just now hopping back on the wagon, here’s a quick run-down of trades that have led to the current run.
Following the 2019 championship, the Raptors were expected to enter the 2020 season with a similar roster in hopes of recreating their success. However, Toronto sports fans were shocked when Kawhi Leonard announced that he would be signing with the Los Angeles Clippers for the following season.
In August of 2021, the Raptors moved franchise legend Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. Continuing with the goal of dismantling the core, in March of 2021 the Raptors moved Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers. Another major trade of the rebuild involved the Raptors shipping defensive specialist OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
Finally, in January of 2024, franchise legend Pascal Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis, Jordan Nwora and draft capital. The team determined that moving Siakam made sense for their future since they were looking to lose games in search of a high draft pick.
Matter of fact, where’s everybody from?
Masai Ujiri drafted forward Scottie Barnes from Florida State with the 4th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. The 6’8″ forward was a defensive menace at Florida, a strong rim finisher and an excellent facilitator for his teammates. Barnes won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award and was cemented as a franchise cornerstone.
Starting guard Immanuel Quickley was one of two draws for the Annunoby trade. The 26 year old impressed during his time on the Knicks, playing excellent minutes for them off the bench. He earned 6th Man of the Year votes in both his second and third seasons in the league, providing high energy offense and elite three point shooting.
Toronto native RJ Barrett also joined the team via the Annunoby trade and has made his impact on the squad from day one, putting up over 20 points a game in his first full season with the team. Barrett has also grown as a player since arriving, rapidly improving his ability to contribute to the offense without the ball in his hands. The production looks even better when you consider how inexpensive his contract is. With his relatively inexpensive contract, Barrett is an incredible asset for the raptors.
Jakob Poetl is the ex girlfriend the Raptors just couldn’t get over. After being drafted by the Raptors in 2017, he impressed as a back up center and showed potential to be a solid starter in the NBA. He was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 offseason in the blockbuster deal that brought Kawhi Leonard to the team. After 3 seasons with the Spurs, the raptors decided they needed him back and moved Khem Birch and draft capital for him in 2023. The traditional big man has been very serviceable for the Raptors, with strong rim defense and some very impressive pick and roll play.
The Raptors traditionally struggle with landing star free agents, and with the Pelicans looking to get some value from Brandon Ingram instead of losing him in free agency, a deal was made. In return they sent Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk, as well as a 2026 first-round pick and a 2031 second-rounder. The Raptors were lacking shot creation, and Ingram was brought in with the intention of carrying much of the offensive load for the team.
Are we cooked?
The Raptors currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, although they are only one game back from being tied with the Celtics and Knicks for second. The record is impressive; however, one must take into account how weak the Eastern Conference is as a whole this season in comparison to the West. The Raptors have only one more win than the Minnesota Timberwolves, who hold seventh place in the Western Conference.
Although the Raptors hold the 4th best defense in the league according to defensive rating, they’re only the 17th best offense. This disparity highlights the weaknesses of the roster as currently constructed, weaknesses that are amplified by the fact that the front office has already given out large long-term contracts.
The team’s center, Jacob Poetl, is guaranteed nearly 97 million dollars over the next 5 years. Poetl is already 30 years old and has only played 20 games so far this year due to injury. In the games he has played, his rim protection has been negligible compared to his early career, and his defensive regression compared to just last season is immense.
Another challenge is Immanuel Quickley’s four-year, 130 million dollar contract. Quickley operated best in New York in a spark plug role off of the bench. Although undoubtedly talented, his massive contract makes him a hard asset to move in a trade, and the fact that he’s being asked to play the traditional point guard role, something he isn’t particularly equipped for, is limiting the Raptors’ offense.
Rumours involving RJ Barrett’s future with the team have been circulating since last season. The 25-year-old fills many of the same roles as Brandon Ingram, and with the Raptors looking to cut costs, he will likely be moved by the trade deadline. With the Raptors looking for long-term answers at the point guard and center positions, we could very well see him moved in a deal to fill one of those positions.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
The silver lining with this situation is that there are many answers to the Raptors’ issues seemingly available for trade. In terms of point guards, stars Lamelo Ball, Darius Garland, and Ja Morant are all being shopped around the league for trade. More realistic acquisitions include a potential trade for Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets, a talented traditional center who could solve rebounding issues the Raptors have struggled with.
With poor contracts and holes to fill in terms of finding a true point guard and a consistently available center, the Raptors are several moves away from competing for championships. However, with promising young players and the continued development of Scottie Barnes, the team may well be ready to win in a couple seasons’ time.
The largest issue currently plaguing the Raptors’ future is the same issue plaguing almost every team in the NBA today. Will any iteration of this Raptors team be able to compete with the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder? The reigning champions have built a roster for long-term success, with their incredible core group of players being under contract for years to come. OKC looks primed to dominate the league for the next decade, and with the questions surrounding the Raptors’ roster, many fans were left confused when the Raptors acquired Brandon Ingram, a move clearly designed to bring in the final piece of a roster ready to win.
The counter to that argument is that we have in fact played these games before. The 2019 champion Raptors were not supposed to win the final series. Although the roster was impressive, it paled in comparison to that of the Warriors. Arguably the greatest team ever constructed added another All-Star in DeMarcus Cousins, and the team looked destined to complete the three-peat. However, injuries struck, and the Raptors were able to capitalize.
Even mentioning 2019 feels like getting ahead of myself. Newer Raptors fans will have been fortunate enough to miss one of the most frustrating eras of Raptors history, LeBronto. Year after year, the DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry led Raptors fell short to Lebron and his Cavaliers.
The peak of the embarrassment came in 2018, where the Raptors fell to what was arguably the worst team to ever make a deep playoff run. With a truly terrible surrounding cast, a 34 year old LeBron James made the Raptors look like a high school basketball team, sweeping the series in dominant fashion. The point I’m making here is, if you don’t love them at their LeBronto you can’t have them at their 2019. Championship teams are built through years of struggle, and we will have to be patient with this Raptors team.
While the Thunder may seem unstoppable, the NBA has proven time and again that anything is possible. With a few additions, this Raptors team has a legitimate chance to compete.
