The 2013-14 NBA season kicked off and the expectations for the Toronto Raptors were predictably low. These expectations came with good reason as the Raptors were a woeful 34-48 last season which was good for a whopping 20 games back from the division winning New York Knicks.
The offseason brought some less than exciting player acquisitions. The trio of Steve Novak, D.J. Augustin and Tyler Hansbrough have been non-factors thus far and given that Augustin is no longer with the squad and Novak and Hansbrough can’t get off the bench; all three can be chalked up as busts.
The best addition to the squad was one done through subtraction as the Raptors were able to part ways with the under-performing and overpaid Andrea Bargnani. The Knicks self identified as willing trade partners and appeared eager to take the soft playing Italian off the Raps hands.
Not only were the Raptors able to rid themselves of the frustration that was Bargnani but also his inflated contract that came along. The Raptors parlayed the former first overall selection into the Knicks future first round pick in 2016 as well as a second round pick in 2014 and 2017.
Aside from the player movements in the offseason, the single biggest and most impactful move the franchise made was to acquire the services of Masai Ujiri from the Denver Nuggets. Ujiri was handed the keys to the franchise as well as title of general manager.
Ujiri’s resume and reputation was impressive; however, questions remained as to just how effective he could be in Toronto as he inherited a bad team with limited payroll flexibility. Ujiri set to work almost immediately as he orchestrated the Bargnani deal then set about to shed more payroll in the hopes of regaining some flexibility under the salary cap.
Ujiri made his second major move of the young season as he shipped Rudy Gay and his $20 million salary off to Sacramento. Not only did the move shed Gay’s burdening contract but it also allowed the Raps to acquire three players in Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes who will all be free-agents at season’s end.
As it stands now the Raptors have only $27 million in salaries on the books for next season. Now if we add in the team options for Amir Johnson and John Salmons (which is no sure thing) then the Raptors would see their financial commitments rise to about $41 million.
As of tonight the Raptors are in first place in the Atlantic Division and they have a four game lead on the Brooklyn Nets. If the playoffs were to start today, the Raptors would be the fourth seed and would host a first round playoff series. Further to their success, they are one of only four team in the Eastern Conference who have have a positive point differential ratio.
As good as the turnaround has been, perhaps it is coming a bit too quick for the franchise. This years NBA entry draft is supposed to be loaded with future NBA stars and any top-ten pick could just garner you a future franchise player. As history would suggest, the Raptors were likely inline for a lottery pick this season and perhaps even a top eight pick.
With the success that has come however, there will be no lottery pick this season for the Raps and there won’t be many teams looking to move out of the top ten as the risk-reward to such a move could cost a general manager his job down the line.
If the Toronto Raptors can hang on and win their division and procure a home-court playoff series, would it be worth it as they would be passing on the draft lottery? Let’s say the Raptors win the division and they manage to beat a depleted Chicago Bulls squad in the first round to advance to a second round series against a top-three Eastern Conference team. Is a second round exit worth the gamble?
I’d argue that in both cases the answer is yes. The success of today will do more for the franchise than a prospect-player will do for tomorrow. Going into the year the Raptors weren’t going to be bad enough to get a top five pick; so why not go out and try to win some games?
Regardless of how the year ends for the squad, they have made a huge improvement and they have a considerable amount of salary dollars to spend in 2014 and 2015 for free-agents.
Ujiri has resurrected the franchise in a short period of time and there is no question that he will be anointed as the general manager of the year come season end. Not only are the Raptors gaining respectability among the casual basketball fan but they are becoming a team to be feared on the court. Their tenacious defense, hard-nosed work ethic and athleticism is turning heads throughout the league. The Raptors aren’t taking anyone by surprise any longer, the question is can they sustain the success and hold on for a division title.