New day and new franchise assessment made in TrashTalk. Today, we’re heading north to Ontario to talk about our Raptor friends. Continuity or new beginning, what do these Dinos have in store for us?
What TrashTalk announced
40 victories for Alex, 38 victories for Bastien, low part of the Play-In Tournament on both sides. A lot of uncertainty regarding the moves to come on the Toronto side even if the roster does not lack talent. Transition season, explosion season (roster)? Complicated to really predict the future of these Dinos, we waited to see what Masai Ujiri had in store for us.
What really happened
Weighed down by the departure in the summer of 2023 of Fred VanVleet, the Raptors found themselves facing a major challenge at the start of the school year. Do better than last season (9th) by having replaced their star leader with Dennis Schröder. Huge surprise (no), we don’t replace an All-Star leader with a sixth man, we don’t hope to have the same results with a Bentley as with a Clio.
Still stuck in the soft underbelly, the Raptors were heading towards a new tasteless season. Well aware of the limits of this group, management therefore made a decision… FINALLY. Out of the question to see OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam slip away during the summer for nothing. The VanVleet experience (and Kawhi before that) was useful. The winger was therefore sent to New York at the end of December to experience Tom Thibodeau’s management while Spicy P was asked to see if the farmers were taking good care of their fields in Indianapolis. RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Bruce Brown replace them in Canada. Veteran Kelly Olynyk adds some experience to the mix at the deadline, while strengthening the Canadian contingent in the locker room.
On the field, there is good and much less good, but we still remember the great progress of Scottie Barnes who celebrates his first All-Star star in February, just like the promises of a Gradey Dick between two valves of exchanged jerseys (the real ones know what we’re talking about).
The end of the season mainly comes down to the development of young people and the integration of new arrivals, while trying to save the 2024 Draft pick by seeking as many defeats as possible. The franchise also had to deal with the Jontay Porter case and far from desired publicity. The most important thing for Toronto despite everything: a new cycle is officially launched.
The Raptors season in a few articles
The image of the season
If we only have to keep one image for this Raptors season, it’s probably this one. See Pascal Siakam (we can also count Fred VanVleet) playing at Scotiabank Arena in a jersey other than that of the Raptors. The departure of a fan favorite and above all the end of a cycle in Ontario.
Why we can smile
Despite the Raptors’ 13th place, there is reason to be confident for the future in Toronto. The franchise has finally launched a new cycle and avoided finding itself naked with its departing executives. There is a very interesting young core to build on (Barnes, Barrett, Quickley, Dick), picks to strengthen via the Draft (we can count on the fact that Bruce Brown will bring one more). Arriving in the middle of a workforce transition, coach Darko Rajaković will finally be able to work calmly around his new leaders. The return to the first part of the table will wait a little but there is something to work on with good skills.
Why we can be angry
If Toronto fans have a big reason to be angry, it’s because of the Draft Lottery. Their record projected them into the Top 6, they finished in 8. Bad luck, any pick outside the Top 6 went to San Antonio (thanks Jakob Poeltl). Two picks for the Spurs in the Top 8, and Toronto which must settle for numbers 19 and 31. Winning only 25 games and not being able to pick up a good young man in the Draft… Pay your salary.
And what’s next?
Who says new cycle says period of transition and therefore sporting ambitions to be revised downwards but with a Scottie Barnes who confirms and other young people who push hard alongside him, Toronto could well experience a gentle rebuild. Young people, defeats, development, we are launching a new cycle in the hope of a bright future in Ontario.
The Toronto Raptors will celebrate their 30th anniversary in the NBA next year and they have decided to attack this anniversary with a makeover. Young people in power in Canada, and if not soon a jersey retirement for good Vince Carter?
Source stats : TrashTalk
2024-05-25 08:28:00
#Toronto #Raptors #bilan
