As the only franchise based in Canada, the Toronto Raptors are the NBA’s northernmost team. However, while every map shows Ontario being just above the International Boundary, that’s not really where the Raptors are located. They’ve played below the border of their expectations all season.
Taking The Raptors Beyond The Border
Sure, the Raptors have one of the league’s youngest rosters.
They rank 14th in average age (26.0 years old), per NBA-Age Analysis. They’re tied with the Houston Rockets for sixth in average age by minutes (25.1). They’re tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 10th in average age by usage (25.1).
Yet, the Thunder and Rockets have a similar amount of inexperience and have been much more successful this season. In fact, OKC and Houston are ranked first and second in the Western Conference standings, respectively. Thus, Toronto’s youth isn’t really an excuse. Neither are injuries, considering that Thunder center Chet Holmgren –the second overall pick in 2022 —has been out since Nov. 10.
In fact, the way that the Raptors have played ever since the Milwaukee Bucks beat the snot out of them is evidence that they weren’t putting their best foot forward. In their last 10 games, Toronto is 8-2. This is a stretch that’s seen them take down the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Clippers. Though they’re on different levels, each of those aforementioned teams are bonafide playoff contenders.
If the Raptors consistently played with the right amount of heart and hustle, they might be in postseason contention as well. Instead, they’re on the outside looking in. At 16-33, their win-loss record is 12th in the East.
Trade Don’t Tank
All hope isn’t lost for the Raptors, which is why they should avoid going into tank mode.
As of today, they’re 5.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls, who are 10th in the Eastern Conference. Yet, after trading All-Star wing Zach LaVine this weekend, there’s a legitimate chance the Bulls hit a brick wall. Furthermore, they’re 6.0 games behind the ninth-place Atlanta Hawks, who lost rising star Jalen Johnson for the season.
With that in mind, both the Bulls and Hawks were already on pace to land top-10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, Toronto would have the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft if the season ended today. Tanking might give them a better chance at landing a franchise-altering prospect. Nonetheless, Chicago and Atlanta’s changing trajectories highlight the possibility that Toronto reaches the playoffs, perhaps via the Play-In Tournament.
This would be quite the accomplishment. After all, Darko Rajakovic is in just his second season as a head coach. Scottie Barnes, in his fourth NBA season, is the team’s only player with an All-Star selection. The New York Knicks gave RJ Barrett the boot just over a year ago.
Ace Bailey, Brandon Ingram, or Andrew Wiggins?
The irony in evaluating the best draft prospects for the Raptors is that it requires an assessment of the team’s current needs. In terms of skillsets, Toronto needs better shooters, defenders, and rebounders.
Among the projected top-five prospects, the Rutgers forward Ace Bailey may actually be the best fit for the Raptors. At 6-foot-10, he’s averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 38.5 percent from three. Unlike Barnes or Barrett, he doesn’t need many dribbles to put the ball in the basket.
Yet, between Barnes, Barrett, and Gradey Dick, the Raptors may not be looking to draft a starting-caliber wing or forward. If they manage to trade for Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins or New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, it’ll be even less likely. Barnes and Barrett have become Toronto’s most reliable scorers. Dick is pretty streaky but his upside as a shooter and defender gives him upside.
There’s no guarantee that any prospect would come in and outperform Dick. Nonetheless, Ingram and Wiggins’ body of work suggest that they would.
That leaves just one position for the Raptors to be hyper-fixated on.
Changing Of The Guard
Immanuel Quickley is regarded as one of the better young players. He has nearly all the guard skills a team could want but he’s also a strong defender. Unfortunately for Toronto, he’s been limited to just 11 games this season due to injury. This puts them in a serious predicament. Not only have his absences lowered the Raptors’ floor and ceiling this season, they signed him to a five-year, $175 million contract extension in June.
It’s worth noting that Quickley is normally durable, playing at least 64 games in each of his previous four seasons. He’s played 78 or more games twice. Nonetheless, the Raptors have committed too much money to a player who may not be as reliable as he looked.
On the one hand, this could cause Toronto to eye prospects like Rutgers guard Dylan Harper or Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, it also makes it possible that the Raptors look to get out from under Quickley’s contract as soon as possible, hoping that some other team believes he’s just having an anomalous 2024-25 campaign.
Coby White
In looking for a potential replacement for Quickley, someone who could help them reach the playoffs this season and beyond, Toronto might find themselves in trade conversations with the Bulls. With Chicago willing to trade virtually anyone on their roster, 24-year-old combo guard Coby White could be attainable. Though his injury history isn’t quite pristine, he’s played at least 60 games in every season of his career. He played at least 74 games in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Like Quickley, he’s highly skilled, averaging 18.9 points and 4.9 assists in his last 122 games. He’s not on Quickley’s level defensively but he certainly made strides in that area last season. Furthermore, he’s only owed $24.9 million through 2026. This could help the Raptors be players in what’s a vaunted free agent class, especially if Lonzo Ball‘s expiring $23 million contract helps them match salaries.
Collin Sexton
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton is another player the Raptors could consider.
There are downsides. The 26-year-old make $37.5 million through 2026, which is a few more bucks than White but not nearly as much as Quickley. Due to injury, he played just 11 games in 2021-22 and was limited to 48 games in 2022-23. However, Sexton has more upside than White at the both ends of the floor, largely because he’s more physical and athletic. Over the past two seasons, he’s averaged 18.7 points and 4.7 assists in 27.5 minutes per game.
PJ Tucker‘s expiring $11.5 million contract could be used as salary-filler.
© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The post Raptors Backcourt Trade Will Take Them Beyond Border appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.