LATEST REPORT: 3 Crucial take away from the Raptors’ disastrous season
The Raptors have faced immense challenges throughout the past season, providing ample opportunities for learning and growth. While most teams typically shift their focus to the playoffs after the regular season, for the Raptors, it’s a time to pause, reflect, and digest the whirlwind of emotions from the 2023-2024 season.
Amidst disappointing signings, blockbuster trades, and significant league controversies, the Raptors experienced a string of setbacks that persisted until the final buzzer of their season-ending loss to the Miami Heat, resulting in their fifth-worst record in franchise history.
However, even in adversity, there are valuable lessons to be gleaned. In this article, we’ll explore three key takeaways that can guide the Raptors in building a stronger foundation for future playoff contention.
Lesson One: Young Players Don’t Develop Overnight
Over the past decade, Raptors supporters have been treated to a rich pool of draft talent, despite the team having only three lottery picks in the last eight drafts. Players like OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Fred Vanvleet, Norman Powell, and now Scottie Barnes have all blossomed as homegrown talents. However, the hype surrounding rookie Gradey Dick was perhaps unfairly lofty.
Gradey faced a slow start to his career, grappling with inconsistency across various aspects of his game, including his shooting stroke, which was initially seen as highly adaptable. However, after spending some time with the Raptors 905 and experiencing changes in the team’s lineup, Gradey began to show significant improvements. Fans, who had previously labeled him a “bust” halfway through the season, have now largely quieted their doubts.
With the addition of former lottery pick Ochai Agbaji and the possibility of acquiring three picks in a draft considered to lack immediate star power, the Raptors must navigate a path akin to Oklahoma City’s strategy, striking a balance between building a competitive core and nurturing the growth of young talent.
Lesson Two: Plan Multiple Steps Ahead
The Raptors have faced consistent criticism for their lack of forward thinking, dating back to the infamous trade involving Jakob Poeltl that jeopardized their 2024 lottery pick. However, their mishandling of Fred VanVleet’s departure in the 2023 off-season stands out as a prime example of this shortcoming.
Despite widespread expectations within the league that VanVleet would likely reject any offer from the Raptors in favor of a more lucrative deal elsewhere, the team was still caught off guard by his exit. Their response was to sign Dennis Schroder and Jalen McDaniels to multi-year contracts. Fast forward to the present, Schroder has been traded to Brooklyn for salary cap flexibility, and McDaniels has had an extremely inefficient season, shooting only 34 percent from the field and 16.9 percent from three-point range.
This pattern repeated itself before the trade deadline when the Raptors traded Pascal Siakam to the Pacers for a perplexing package including Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis Jr., Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks. The Raptors found themselves in a difficult position due to their indecision the previous season, which lowered Siakam’s trade value. Siakam was expected to become a free agent at the end of the year.
While the inclusion of three first-round picks (now two due to the Olynyk/Agbaji trade) partially salvaged the deal, it’s evident that the value the Raptors received did not match what they gave up. Their failure to prioritize the future ultimately resulted in a less than ideal return on the trade.
Lesson Three: Don’t Underestimate Veteran Leadership
The current lineup of the Raptors represents a significant departure from the familiar faces fans were accustomed to just a year ago. Out of the 17 players who remained by the season’s end, only four had been part of the team the previous year. Such a high turnover inevitably led to a loss of the team’s identity.
Concerns first arose in mid-February following a heavy 99-122 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs. While losing to a team with only 11 wins in the middle of the season is challenging, the real worry emerged when, with 30 seconds remaining, Scottie Barnes headed to the locker room prematurely, raising questions about his leadership as a first-time All-Star.
To his credit, Barnes responded to the criticism with a sense of responsibility. In subsequent games, he actively made his presence felt off-court by directing plays from the sidelines and uplifting his less-experienced teammates.
During the Raptors’ post-season press conference, Barnes commended Garrett Temple, a 38-year-old veteran and Vice-President of the National Basketball Player’s Association, for setting an exemplary standard.
“Observing the kind of veteran he is and how he never takes things for granted, that’s been invaluable for me.”
With the team becoming increasingly youthful, the Raptors must prioritize the provision of veteran leadership. This could involve extending Temple’s contract for multiple years or seeking alternative forms of veteran guidance from the upcoming pool of free agents.