So the deed has been done and the Raptors are on the hunt for a new Head Coach. Word on the street is that Udoka is a shoe in and has been for perhaps longer than anyone suspected. But where does the team go from here, whether or not they sign Udoka? After having watched this brand of the Raptors for several years, it’s obvious that Nurse wasn’t anywhere near their biggest liability.
Only an hour or so after the news leaked that Nurse had been let go, Masai began his long delayed end of the season presser. Unfortunately, whether he has any specific plans or targets, he gave us no indication of any specific action that would be taken. In all likelihood, even he doesn’t know what the summer will bring other than the rampant heat and humidity common in the Great Lakes Basin. However, he probably has a good idea who he’d like to deal and which free agents he’ll let walk. Let’s break it down.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Jakob Poeltl
Will Barton
I really like the things that Jakob Poeltl can do and believe his time is coming. A youthful 27, he’s a real 7 footer with a soft touch and good footwork. At $10 million a year, he’s worth extending a 4 year contract.
At less than $700k per year, Barton isn’t a piece that’s going to make or break the Raptors, stay or go.
Restricted Free Agents
Dalano Banton
Jeff Dowtin Jr
Ron Harper Jr
Bench players, all combined for an average 24 minutes per game and less than 10 points and represent about $3-4 million a year in total. No one distinguished themselves this season and any of the 3 could be replaced easily.
Player Option
Fred Van Vleet
Gary Trent Jr
Otto Porter Jr
Fred and Gary have been inconsistent, underperforming for large parts of the season. With salaries in the $20 million area, are there no upgrades available? Otto Porter is a non-factor, unfortunately, due to his injury bug.
Trade Bait
Pascal Siakim
OG Anunoby
Scotty Barnes
Here is the meat of what the Raptors have to try and build an improved roster. Still, it is unlikely that Masai will trade any of these for young players and picks given his comments in the year end interview, when he stated he didn’t believe you had to tear a team down in order to make it better. Instead, expect the party line to be belief in these guys and a new coach with a new playbook and a return to our defense first, winning culture.
It is always possible that Masai could track down another disenchanted superstar as he did with Kawhi, but that’s not unlike lightning striking twice in the same place.
Draft Assets
They own their first round pick this year which is most likely to be north of the 10th selection but the 2nd rounder is gone due to Poeltl. It was a questionable move to try and make the playoffs this year after sitting in 11th in the East midway through the season. Running the wheels off the starters to the point where they break down badly in the play-in tournament, wasn’t a good look for management.
Free Agent Destination
Nope, not in any way is Toronto a destination for NBA free agents and in fact the reverse is more true. It’s difficult to attract world class talent because of the cold and customs 41 times a season.
Bottom Line
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors were the first team in NBA history to win a championship with a team that had no lottery picks in the starting lineup. Instead they had perhaps the best basketball player in the league that year in Kawhi Leonard, an experienced, motivated PG in Kyle Lowry that was going to do whatever he had to do to win and a strong ensemble cast. And no one thought they could pull it off because almost never does a team win without at least 2 bona fide allstars/superstars.
So I hate to disagree with a guy who has accomplished so much but I just don’t see where Masai currently has the assets to convert into a couple of world class players. In my opinion he should go all Utah under Danny Ainge and sell them all. Start again and try to develop some assets because there are going to be no more playoffs in Toronto Raptor’s future until he does.