Raptors Share How They Feel About Their Lottery Odds & Pick Owed to San Antonio

The Toronto Raptors have hinted at their preference regarding their first-round pick, despite stating they’d be content regardless of the outcome. Their recent performance at the end of the season, intentionally or not, reveals their strategy.

The Raptors deliberately secured a poor record in the final weeks, ensuring they land in the bottom six teams of the league standings. This effort successfully bumped them ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, granting them a 45.8% chance of retaining their first-round pick.

Realistically, the odds are against Toronto. Most likely, they’ll convey a pick ranging from seventh to tenth to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Jakob Poeltl trade from last year. Some argue they should simply relinquish the pick this year, even if it’s a higher lottery selection, due to the perceived weakness of this year’s draft class.

Despite the Raptors publicly expressing contentment with any outcome, their actions speak otherwise. Why intentionally tank if they weren’t aiming to improve their lottery chances? The potential of landing a star or high-impact players at the top of the draft, as demonstrated by past drafts, is a significant lure.

There’s also the uncertainty of Toronto’s performance next year. If they improve and end up with a late lottery pick in 2025, they would miss the opportunity to pair another top draft pick with rising star Scottie Barnes. While quality players can be found in the middle of the draft, the prospect of having Barnes, along with a top-six pick from this year’s draft, presents a more enticing future core.

Although the organization maintains a neutral stance publicly, their efforts suggest a preference for a high draft pick. The upcoming draft lottery could dramatically alter the trajectory of their rebuilding plans.