2023 NBA Offseason Preview: Toronto Raptors

By Andrew Bancroft May 13, 2023 33 mins read 119 Views

A playoff team for seven straight years from 2014-20, the Raptors won just 27 games in 2020/21 while playing their home games in Tampa due to COVID-related border restrictions, then got some lottery luck that spring, landing the No. 4 pick and nabbing Scottie Barnes.

When Toronto racked up 48 wins in 2021/22, it looked like that lost ’20/21 season would just be a blip on the radar, with the club poised to reclaim its place as a playoff fixture in the East. So it came as a major disappointment when the Raptors went just 41-41 in ’22/23, their worst record in a non-Tampa season since 2012/13, and were quickly eliminated from the play-in tournament.

On paper, the Raptors looked like a team that should have finished better than .500. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have All-Star appearances on their résumés and are still in their prime. Barnes was coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign. OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. are the types of three-and-D players that every NBA team covets. And Toronto even addressed its hole in the middle by reacquiring Jakob Poeltl from San Antonio in February.

The individuals were better than the sum of the parts though, and a thin, inconsistent bench that lost Otto Porter to a foot injury early in the season didn’t help matters. Heading into the 2023 offseason, top executives Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster will have to determine which players are still considered long-term cornerstones and which might be expendable in trades to breathe new life into the roster.

The Raptors’ Offseason Plan:
Before the Raptors make any player personnel decisions, they’ll have to determine who will be coaching the team this fall. Nick Nurse, an assistant on Dwane Casey‘s staff until 2018, won a championship in 2019 in his first year as head coach, then was named Coach of the Year in 2020. But his last few years were more of a mixed bag, with Nurse leaning too heavily on his starters and perhaps not connecting with his players in the same way he once did. The club parted ways with him last month.

Toronto’s list of interviewees is longer than that of any other team conducting a head coaching search this spring, with the team casting a wide net in its search for Nurse’s replacement. In addition to former NBA head coaches and current assistants, that list includes a EuroLeague coach (Sergio Scariolo), a WNBA coach (Becky Hammon), and a player-turned-TV-analyst (JJ Redick).

It’s hard to draw any conclusions about the Raptors’ search until we see how it ends, but the team at least seems willing to get creative and think outside the box as it seeks its new leader on the sidelines. It will be interesting to see whether Toronto’s eventual choice is one of those outside-the-box candidates or if the club will ultimately play it safe with a former NBA coach or experienced assistant.

As important as the head coaching decision is, it will be quickly overshadowed by the looming free agency of three key contributors. Poeltl is headed for unrestricted free agency, while VanVleet and Trent can join him if they decline player options for 2023/24, which is expected.

On paper, there’s a strong case to bring back all three players. Of the three, Poeltl looks like the best bet to return — Toronto gave up its top-six protected 2024 first-round pick for the veteran center and he capably filled a position that had been a revolving door since the club parted with Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in 2020. It wouldn’t make sense for the Raptors to let him walk, so I expect him to re-sign on a three- or four-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $17-20MM annually.

VanVleet and Trent are trickier cases. VanVleet is a strong defender who was a career 38.2% three-point shooter entering 2022/23, but he wasn’t quite as stout defensively this past season, and his three-point rate dipped to 34.2%.

In theory, the 29-year-old provides the sort of floor spacing and play-making that the Raptors don’t get from many other players on the roster, and he has proven his bona fides in the postseason, playing a rotation role on the championship team in 2019. But VanVleet isn’t particularly efficient from inside the arc and his price tag could approach or even surpass $30MM per year.

Trent, meanwhile, is probably in line for a multiyear contract worth in excess of $20MM annually, given his age (24), as well as his ability to knock down outside shots (.384 career 3PT%) and hold his own on defense. That’s a fair rate, and his skill set is one the Raptors could use, but it’s a substantial price to pay for a player who projects to be a sixth man.

It’s not out of the question for the Raptors to pay Poeltl, VanVleet, and Trent and still sneak below the luxury tax line in 2023/24. But it might require some cost-cutting elsewhere on the roster, with Chris Boucher ($11.75MM) and Porter ($6.3MM) among the potential trade candidates. Boucher and Porter theoretically project to be two of Toronto’s top bench players next season, so it would be a challenge to sign all three free agents, trade Boucher and/or Porter, and find a way to upgrade the second unit.

Of course, one possibility we haven’t discussed yet is the idea of trading a core player. Barnes, 21, probably isn’t going anywhere. A sign-and-trade involving VanVleet or Trent wouldn’t be impossible. But Siakam and Anunoby – who was one of the top trade candidates to stay put at February’s deadline – would be easier to move and are more likely to be the subject of trade rumors this summer.

Of those two, Anunoby is the better bet to be on the move. His cap hit ($18.6MM) is less than half of Siakam’s, which simplifies salary matching, and he’s the player who can slot more easily into any team’s lineup due to his three-and-D skill set. The 25-year-old still hasn’t fully come into his own as an offensive creator, but he has made 38.4% of his three-pointers over the last four seasons and has become one of the NBA’s best, most versatile defenders, with an ability to guard point guards, centers, and anything in between.

Siakam is a talented two-way player in his own right, with a more well-rounded offensive game and impressive versatility on defense. However, he’s more ball-dominant and is quite pricey ($37.9MM), so the list of teams that could conceivably trade for him and then seamlessly incorporate him would be shorter.

Much of the trade speculation surrounding Anunoby has been centered on how many first-round picks Toronto could get back for him, but the Raptors – who don’t control their 2024 first-rounder – have no incentive to load up on draft picks and rebuild.

If Anunoby or another key player is traded, the front office’s goal will likely be to get back multiple young players who are ready to step into rotation roles. For instance, if the Pelicans pursue Anunoby, I’d expect the Raptors to show more interest in the likes of Dyson Daniels, Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones, and Jose Alvarado than in New Orleans’ collection of future first-round picks.

Toronto will certainly be open to retooling the roster, but blowing it up probably isn’t on the table this offseason.

Salary Cap Situation
Guaranteed Salary

Pascal Siakam ($37,893,408)
OG Anunoby ($18,642,857)
Chris Boucher ($11,750,000)
Scottie Barnes ($8,008,680)
Otto Porter Jr. ($6,300,000)

Note: Exercised player option.

Precious Achiuwa ($4,379,527)
Malachi Flynn ($3,873,025)
Christian Koloko ($1,719,864)
Thaddeus Young ($1,000,000)

Note: Partial guarantee. Rest of salary noted below.

Total: $93,567,361

Dead/Retained Salary

None

Player Options

Fred VanVleet ($22,824,074): Bird rights
Gary Trent Jr. ($18,560,000): Bird rights
Total: $41,384,074

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Thaddeus Young ($7,000,000)

Note: Partial guarantee. Young’s salary would become fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before June 30.

Joe Wieskamp ($1,927,896)

Note: Wieskamp’s salary would become fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before June 30.

Total: $8,927,896

Restricted Free Agents

Dalano Banton ($2,189,698 qualifying offer / $2,189,698 cap hold): Early Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $2,189,698

Two-Way Free Agents

Jeff Dowtin: Non-Bird rights
Ron Harper Jr.: Non-Bird rights

Draft Picks

No. 13 overall ($4,469,280)

Note: This is only a placeholder until the draft order is determined via the lottery.

Total: $4,469,280

Extension-Eligible Players

OG Anunoby (veteran)
Jakob Poeltl (veteran)
Pascal Siakam (veteran)
Gary Trent Jr. (veteran)
Fred VanVleet (veteran)
Precious Achiuwa (rookie scale)
Malachi Flynn (rookie scale)

Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2023/24 season begins. Poeltl is only eligible until June 30; Trent would only become eligible if his player option is exercised.

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Jakob Poeltl ($17,856,481 cap hold): Bird rights
Will Barton ($1,989,698 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total: $19,846,179

Cap Exceptions Available

Mid-level exception: $12,220,600
Bi-annual exception: $4,448,000

Note: The Raptors would lose access to the full mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception if their team salary surpasses the tax apron.

References:

By: Luke Adams
Title: 2023 NBA Offseason Preview: Toronto Raptors
Sourced From: www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/05/2023-nba-offseason-preview-toronto-raptors.html
Published Date: 05-13-2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver had an NBA team.

Vancouver doesn't have a NBA franchise. The Vancouver Grizzlies were the city's basketball team from 1995 to 2001. In 2001, they moved to Memphis Tennessee. Vancouver is home to the Toronto Raptors, the local NBA team. There are also other professional basketball teams that play in and around Vancouver, including the BC Tigers of Canada's Elite Basketball League and Vancouver Volcanoes International Basketball League. There are many amateur and semi-professional basketball teams that play in local leagues.

Vancouver basketball fans have many other options than just playing the game. For example, the Vancouver Grizzlies Alumni Association is a group that strives to connect former players from the team with each other and also bring awareness of basketball in British Columbia. This association organizes events like viewing parties for Raptors games or clinics to help young athletes develop their game.

The city's love of basketball has not decreased since the departures of the Grizzlies. And it continues to be a supportive community in numerous ways. Vancouverites still love basketball, and they continue to support former players and other organizations who work to promote the sport within the city.

Why did NBA leave Vancouver?

NBA left Vancouver because of a dispute with the City Council regarding arena financing. The City planned to provide $40 million for the construction of a new arena that would feature 12 luxury suites and two restaurants. The City Council decided to give $60 million to the team owners to help pay off existing debt. This meant that the city had to borrow $200m to construct the arena. But the team owners would only have to pay back $20m. This would result in the city being responsible for paying the rest of its loan.

The City Council stated that they would be open to the plan if the NBA agreed not to leave Rogers Arena until the new facility opens. The league, however, refused to accept the plan. They claimed that the arena was not large enough. They were not interested in playing there anymore, as it was too small. They felt it unfair to ask them for more revenue by asking them to stay in the smaller venue.

The City Council then asked the province to step in and help out by offering financial assistance. While the province provided $150 million for the project, the City Council required another $100 million. The City decided to focus its efforts on building a new downtown arena and dropped its plans.

How long has the Raptors been in existence?

Toronto Raptors are an NBA NBA franchise. The Raptors were an expansion team to the NBA in 1995 along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. In 2001-02, the Raptors became the only Canadian-based NBA team after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

The Raptors, based in Toronto, play their home games at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs is the NHL team from Toronto, and also uses the arena. The Raptors have appeared in the NBA playoffs 13 times since their founding, most recently in 2021, where they lost in 6 games to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.

The Raptors made their first playoff appearance in 1999-2000. Unfortunately, they were swept by division rivals New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.

There were not many fans and the team was not exciting. There wasn't anything to root for, nor was there anyone who cared. After years of being mediocre, the team made a decision to improve its image and make it more appealing to the general public.

They hired an advertising agency in 2001 to create a strategy for marketing that would help them achieve national fame. The team came up with a slogan called "Hear us Roar!"

They used the slogan because the team was in financial trouble at the time and wanted to make sure that everyone knew that they were selling out. They needed a catchy slogan and a great logo. This is where the creative genius of the agency shines through. They combined the popular phrase "hear our roar" with "never say die". This became the Toronto Raptors' official motto.

Why are Toronto Raptors called Raptors

The NBA's expansion into Canada in 1995 saw the founding of Toronto Raptors. The team's name and logo were inspired by the film Jurassic Park, released that same year. The team colours are silver, bright red, purple, and black.

The Raptors' first season of basketball was a struggle. They finished the season with a record of 21-61. However, the team improved each year, and by 1999, they had made their first playoff appearance.

The Raptors' most memorable moment came in 2019 when they won their first NBA championship title. Toronto won its first championship under the leadership of Kawhi Leonard (backcourt) and Kyle Lowry (courtside).

The Raptors have been a beloved team in Canada since then. Toronto continues to excite basketball fans from around the world, with international superstars and local talent.

Canada's basketball heritage is proudly represented by the Toronto Raptors. Young athletes are inspired by their success on the court. The Raptors will continue being a favourite team because of their passionate fans and unique style.

Statistics

Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

Time to attend a Toronto Raptors Game

The Toronto Raptors usually play during weekdays between October-April. Weekends are often reserved in advance for concerts and festivals.

Book tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are often sold quickly.

Wednesday is the most popular day for Toronto Raptors fans to visit. This is because many fans show up early to watch pregame warmups.

After the game, fans head over to Nathan Phillips Square, next door to the ACC. They remain there until the final whistle.

It is best to attend a Toronto Raptor home game after 8 pm. The best time to visit a Toronto Raptor game is after 8 pm. Fans are welcome to return to celebrate the team’s victory.