After a losing season, the Raptors need to look forward, not tank, in 2024-25

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A rebrand and relaunch was better and more necessary than the one the Toronto Raptors had going their way.

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One of the worst seasons in franchise history ended on Sunday afternoon in Miami with another loss – 57 of the season – in a 118-103 setback to the Heat.

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Since 2010-11, only four Raptors have lost more, and none have been worse. In addition, injuries to key players were almost comical, with two major trades that sent the popular hometown Raptors away, a gambling scandal involving one of the club's players, and the tragic deaths of Raptors players or people close to head coach Darko Rajakovic.

It was a lot, to say the least. That's why it's better to turn the page as soon as possible and get to the happy moments. That doesn't mean the 2024-25 Raptors will be contenders. Even getting in the game and/or finishing with a .500 record might be a stretch, but there are plenty of celebrations and marketing activations planned for season #30.

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Regardless, here's saying the Raptors shouldn't continue to tank next season. Play it fair and see what happens, especially if the San Antonio Spurs' first-round draft pick doesn't deliver this year (more on that later). Think about how much Toronto has gone wrong this year to finish with the NBA's sixth-worst record.

Will it happen again? Unlikely. Plus, the team won't have the worry of all the key players hitting free agency (as it did with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunabi and Fred VanVleet a year ago). The core is locked in after Immanuel Quickley signs a new deal. There's no point in bothering Scotty Barnes with another year. You don't want to be lost to the lottery forever, just like Charlotte, Detroit and other franchises have been for so long. The goal is to win and players need to get used to games that mean something. Barnes is a winner. Both Quickley and RJ Barrett. Kelly Olynyk made the playoffs twice. Even a young Grady Dick has to learn competitive NBA basketball early.

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Also, the team raised prices significantly before the 30th year and cut its loyal fan base by two years, and was also recently hit by the COVID-Tampa Bay disaster. The 30th should be a celebration, not a season-long “progress for Cooper Flagg” (a standout Duke freshman who leads a highly touted 2025 rookie class).

Toronto already has the last four top picks on the roster (franchise player Barnes, who went fourth, and Barrett, a former high school player of the year like Dick, who went No. 3 in his draft). Another important piece could be added via the draft this summer, though the NBA's sixth-worst ranking gives Toronto only a 45.8% chance of not losing the pick to San Antonio this summer. All it takes is one team after Toronto to jump the lottery for the pick to disappear, and history tells us that happens often. An optimist says the sixth-worst team should be lucky because seven of the last 10 teams entering the lottery have finished seventh or worse, including four of the five years the NBA has changed the lottery. process. The pessimist reiterates that teams in Toronto have stayed in the top six over the last decade or so only 30% of the time, and points out that the Raptors have taken advantage of years of success by jumping from the seventh-best odds to #4. Select a year ending with Barnes.

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Yes, if the Spurs have a pick this summer, there's a good case for Toronto not to try too hard next season, but again, the chances of landing Flagg or any other 2025 class (be they lottery or injury) aren't very promising, and the team is Indiana's No. 1 pick this year. gets their first-round pick (depending on the coin flip, it will be No. 16, 17, 18 or 19) and 2026 via Detroit along with this year's 31st pick. At some point, you have enough prospects and young talent (other late picks went to former lottery pick Ochai Agbaji and veteran Olympian).

Toronto could also keep Gary Trent Jr. and/or Bruce Brown, who have their flaws but are proven shooters and scorers and good team players, or trade Brown for other assets. The team could look to improve the defense with a free agent like Markelle Fultz or De'Anthony Melton, but needs help first. A forward who is a very good outside shooter and rebounder is a must.

This is offseason talk, but thankfully, the offseason is upon us.

@WolstatSun

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