Raptors’ offseason moves open a three-year window for success
Raptors bring the band back together for three more years, hoping LeBron goes west and they can compete with the new-look Celtics in a weak Eastern Conference.
The need for a culture change was the first thought expressed by Raptors’ president, Masai Ujiri in his postseason press conference, but with the retention of head coach, Dwane Casey, and the signings of Ibaka and Lowry, a new culture will have to be built by old faces.
For their first moves of the offseason, the Raptors have brought back two of their most significant and impactful players. Kyle Lowry has signed a reported three-year $100 million contract, while Serge Ibaka signed a three-year $65 million contract. Both moves come as little surprise from fans and media alike. Many analysts believed the point guard market had dried up around the league and Lowry’s best bet for money and a chance to win was in Toronto. Although there were some rumours involving the Rockets, Ibaka’s fate seemed sealed when he was acquired by Ujiri last season.
Though the market may have partially influenced the signing, Lowry had this to say in an article on the Players’ Tribune about making his decision about where he wanted to play.
"But for me, at the end of the day, this was an easy decision. And all of those roads … they all led me back to the same place: home.They all led me back to Toronto."
The Raptors’ offseason has given them a timeline for success
Though the signings may not have been much of a surprise, what did shock some was the term of both deals – only three years. This short duration is a clear sign by Ujiri that he believes there is a three-year window for this group of Raptors’ players to compete for an Eastern Conference championship.
Rethinking
I have often been a supporter of the “blow it up” idea with regards to the Raptors’ offseason plans, but now I’m not so sure that makes sense. With Paul George being traded to OKC, Paul Millsap going to Denver and rumours of LeBron’s interest in going to Los Angeles, shouldn’t the Raptors give it one more go with this current core?
Doing a total rebuild this off-season would not have net Toronto many high-upside assets. They would have let Lowry and Ibaka walk for no compensation in return. Even trading DeRozan may have only gotten you a young prospect and low first-round draft picks in return. And for what? So you can lose for the next however many years it takes to win the draft lottery and pick number one overall in a good draft year…ANDREA BARGNANI ANYONE?
Every team can’t have the luck of Boston, with a good team and a bad team’s picks. And Philly, it has taken them five years to get to the point where they are right now, and we still don’t know for sure what their future holds.
No risk in remaining competitive
The Raptors’ off-season plan gives them a three year timeline to remain competitive in a conference losing star power to the west. It allows the Raps to begin their rebuild as early as next summer if they feel that is the best course of action. That way they can still trade Lowry, Ibaka, and DeRozan for likely a higher return value than they would have been able to get if they just let them walk or if they had signed them to longer term deals.
There is little to no risk in the moves Ujiri has made so far this off-season. He has done a good job keeping the focus on the performance of the current roster, with one eye on the future of the franchise.
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