Juggling Raptors roster – the impact of 2 draft picks

Trying to improve the Raptors is no small job, particularly after this season. What changes can and should Masai Ujiri make during the summer?

The landscape of the NBA is changing all around us. Our team, the Toronto Raptors, is sure to be affected by what transpires this off-season, with first the draft, then free agency, producing upheaval to the roster.

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I’m assuming for purposes of this post that the Raptors will bid farewell to Jason Thompson,James Johnson and Luis Scola. That’s three roster spots waiting to be filled. I’m further assuming Raptors GM Masai Ujiri doesn’t swing a deal for the first-round draft picks he’s going to use on June 23. That night fills two of the three freed-up spots – problem almost solved, right?

Wrong. Dropping the three veterans instantly makes the team younger, a trend exacerbated by adding beardless youths. Being young in the NBA is a positive – being too young is not.

The Raptors overachieved in 2015-2016, both in the regular season and, despite some shaky moments, in the playoffs. By reaching final-four status, the team stirred the imagination of fans and non-fans alike.

Moreover, their success was not a fluke. Since Dwane Casey has been the Raptors head coach, the team has never taken a backward step; every season has produced a higher win total than the one before.

Maintaining that high wire act will prove immensely difficult. After 56 wins in ’15-16, what’s next? 60 victories – with a bunch of kids?

You sense the problem. High expectations, meet your youthful Raptors. Something’s gotta give.

Obviously, the situation isn’t bleak; far from it. But thoughtful management is called for.

I like making small wishes.

• Bruno Caboclo works hard in summer league and training camp. Dwane Casey and his staff decide he’s ready for the spotlight. Now there’s a backup power forward who might be able to provide some deep shooting and interior defense.
• One of the two draftees, presumably the #9 pick, looks ready to play a mop-up role. [20-second timeout: The Raptors got useful minutes from both their 2015 draft choices (Delon Wright and Norman Powell) in their first seasons, which is rare indeed. Asking for that to occur again the very next season might incur the wrath of the basketball gods. If one guy makes it, that’s dandy. The Raptors 905 team has open spots, and lots of games to play, for the other.]
• Masai finds a veteran big man – or two. We need a character guy in the dressing guy room, which is not to imply our incumbent leaders, like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, lack leadership skills. But there’s nothing like a Kevin Garnett or a Paul Pierce to whisper in the new guys’ ears about professionalism while showing off their championship rings. Hopefully, whoever is brought in can still handle himself on the floor, else the effect is muted.

I’m staying away from the questions swirling around Bismack Biyombo and DeMar DeRozan. Those will be settled soon enough, and don’t impact what I’m suggesting here.

We’re far from done on the topic of roster composition, but I think we’ve made a decent start.

Suggestions welcome, Rapture Nation – drop us a Comment.