The Raptors are card-counting in Vegas
The Toronto Raptors exited the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes early last season, opting to trade OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam for still-very-servicable players including Immanual Quickley, RJ Barrett, Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk, whilst holding onto the likes of Jakob Poeltl despite numerous suitors. The Raptors bet big on upside in 2021 with Barnes (and hit big), 2023 with Dick, and 2024 with 4 rookies, 1 or 2 of whom they expect to be at least serviceable role players.
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The Toronto Raptors are NOT contenders, nor should anyone be penciling them in for a playoff spot in the East. However, with the recent developments in Brooklyn, Washington, Portland, Chicago, and the continued crimes against humanity that are happening in Detroit and Charlotte, the Raptors can be at best the 7th worst team in the league, and at worst, the 14th.
These are not Cooper Flagg odds. These are Dink Pate odds. And with 3 picks in the next 2 drafts, drafts which are loaded with plenty of exciting prospects, the Raptors will at least to start, aim to be extremely competitive. In this video, I’ll take you through WHY tanking so rarely, if ever, works, why the Raptors play the odds the way they do, and why the Raptors are in the perfect position to pivot mid-season IF* the odds DO suddenly flip in their favour.
As constructed, the Raptors have a chance to go only one way – and that way is forward. The path to going backwards involved trading Anunoby for a pick-heavy package, taking on bloated contracts like Chris Paul while sending value out, declining Kelly Olynyk’s extension, and likely setting Scottie Barnes up for one of the most depressing offseasons of his life.
#Raptors #CooperFlagg #NBA
7 comments
Great facts to back your argument. I'll also say I sure hope they you are right that they balance this roster to Darko and core has a chance of advancing the "plan".
We already got our franchise player… we don’t need to hope for lottery success to draft a second franchise player. We don’t need to find Batman we already have him signed for 6 seasons. We need to find Robin which is much easier to find either via the draft or trade.
Hi Rob what are your thoughts on Jabari Smith Jr? Could raptors trade for him? Possibly with a 3rd team like Pels and Ingram?
Rob is locked in post draft. Having less NBA content to feed off has Rob digging deep in his bag.
Good job 👏 👍 👌
40:45 – I feel like any of the incentives, after the max (like All-NBA) shouldn't count towards the luxury tax, maybe even the salary cap.
The voters can manipulate the vote in a way that affects the both.
Very impressive reasoning and presentation, Rob. “You can’t wait for the proof before you see the vision” — I love that. Your theory is fascinating. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.