While there are now not many people left on the free agent market and the workforce, except for upheaval via the expected trades of Damian Lillard and James Harden, is almost complete, it is time to take stock summer for all 30 NBA franchises.
Thus, after Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Charlotte, Portland, Orlando and Washington, without forgetting Indiana, Utah, Dallas, Chicago and finally Oklahoma City, it is now the turn of Toronto.
THE Raptors have generally missed their season, never managing to keep pace with the Top 6 before sadly failing in the ‘play-in’, in the first game against Chicago. All in all, it was a somewhat depressing and flat campaign in Ontario, where a page was finally turned after the departure of Fred VanVleet… and Nick Nurse, replaced by Darko Rajakovic.
SEASON 2022/23
41 wins – 41 losses (19th)
13th attack: 114.6 points scored on 100 possessions
11th defense: 113.1 points conceded on 100 possessions
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES
Arrivals: Dennis Schröder, Gradey Dick (Draft), Jalen McDaniels, Garrett Temple, Darko Rajakovic (coach)
Departures: Fred VanVleet, Dalano Banton, Joe Wieskamp, Nick Nurse (coach)
WORKFORCE 2023/24
Leaders: Dennis Schröder, Malachi Flynn
Exteriors: Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Gradey Dick, Jalen McDaniels, Otto Porter Jr and Garrett Temple
Interiors: Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young and Christian Koloko
THE LIKELY MAJOR FIVE
Dennis Schröder, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl
THE OBJECTIVE
Define a direction.
Knowing that the Raptors are not in possession of their 2024 first-round draft pick, which belongs to San Antonio and is protected Top 6 only (as part of the transfer of Jakob Poeltl last February), the scenario of a reconstruction is probably not to be considered next season in Toronto.
To maximize the chances of recovering this choice in the Top 6, it would have been necessary that Masai Ujiri smash everything and dedicate the next campaign to a single objective: to pile up the defeats. But the sports boss of the Raptors, who failed to extend Fred VanVleet, chose the opposite option instead, preferring to keep his group, before recruiting veterans or young people to the revival.
And that is precisely the problem in Toronto: by choosing the status quo this summer, the club finds itself stuck between two temporalities. On the one hand, the short-term vision, i.e. focusing on the present and thus taking advantage of the best years of the oldest players in the squad (Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl or Dennis Schröder). On the other hand, the long-term vision, i.e. the temptation to restructure the squad around younger players (Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Gradey Dick or Precious Achiuwa). A temptation, as obvious as it is, obstructed by the absence of the choice of the first round of the Draft 2024…
In short, it’s quite a puzzle, and very clever whoever can guess what the Raptors’ workforce will look like at the end of the 2023/24 season, or even after the “trade deadline” of February 2024…
This uncertainty could leave the Canadian club with no alternative but to play a 2023/24 “transitional” season. That is to say by starting the campaign with the current workforce, before making decisions on its future according to the results, over the course of the season. First at the trade deadline, then in the summer of 2024.
QUESTIONS
– Which starting point guard? This is indeed a first major question when we observe the current workforce of the Raptors. After Fred VanVleet’s departure to Houston, is Dennis Schröder, thanks to his experience, his obvious replacement, or should we dare to give the keys to the truck to Scottie Barnes, ready to take on more responsibilities?
Clearly, the first option would be that of security (and therefore of the short term), while the second would be that of potential (and therefore of the long term). Earlier this summer, the German point guard announced his desire to be the starting point guard for the Raptors. We also remember that last September, Scottie Barnes said he considered himself a leader. If he subsequently stagnated somewhat during his second campaign, his creative potential was obvious at times.
An element to consider, if we put ourselves in the place of Darko Rajakovic : The Raptors come out of a season wrapped up in 28th place in the league in away address. Integrating Dennis Schröder into the five major would therefore weaken the “spacing”, since it would shift Scottie Barnes to position 3, and OG Anunoby (38.7% at 3-points this season) or Gary Trent Jr. (37%) on the bench. Conversely, if Scottie Barnes takes the reins of “playmaking”, this would allow the two exteriors to be combined on the wings and thus improve the “spacing”, leaving the German leader the joy of energizing the “second unit”. by its speed and its qualities of percussion…
– Is the transfer of Pascal Siakam and/or OG Anunoby inevitable? As mentioned above, the “trade deadline” will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in the next season of the Raptors, who are currently in the fog, with no defined course for their future.
In this uncertain context, a wave of maneuvers is then undoubtedly to be expected in the coming months, according to the club’s results, and Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, soon to be at the end of their contract, could be concerned.
The first, who will be an unprotected free agent next summer, is eligible for a contract extension but could be transferred if the management of the Raptors decides to turn to a reconstruction. Same thing for the second, potentially free next summer if he decides to decline his “player option” for the 2024/25 campaign.
If the dynamic of the Raptors does not improve, Masai Ujiri could then separate from one of the two wingers during the season, to recover a consideration allowing him to prepare for the future. Like for example Draft choices, to replace the one the club sent to San Antonio, and that he will probably not get back…
