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How near are Toronto Raptors to “elite” status?

By Brian Boake

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With the clock inexorably marching closer to the start of the NBA season, our thoughts shift away from evaluating the rebuilt roster. Instead, we question whether the Toronto Raptors as presently constructed are ready to be advanced from “promising” to “elite”. Is our team on the verge of greatness, or are we still standing, nose pressed against the glass, on the outside?

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Apr 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) controls the ball against Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter (22) in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 93-86. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Winning in the NBA is fantastically difficult, yet there are teams which consistently bubble to the top. Here’s a list of champions and finalists, and when you peruse it, you’ll note the same teams’ names appearing with maddening regularity.

Since 1995-1996, when the Raptors arrived in the NBA, they have made zero finals appearances. That’s the same number as a surprising number of teams, including the Kings, Bucks, Suns, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Wizards, Clippers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hornets/Pelicans and Nuggets.

To me, there’s only once conclusion to draw – if you want to build a winning team, you must first create a winning organization. The checkered history of the Raptors certainly carries that point. Perhaps the nadir in the organization’s two decades was the chaotic period after Glen Grunwald was fired as General Manager by MLSE stuffed-shirt Richard Peddie. A committee led by Jack McCloskey (yes, that Jack McCloskey) was struck to prepare for the draft. Poppin’ fresh GM Rob Babcock didn’t have nearly enough time prior to The Day to make a sound decision of his own, and defaulted to McCloskey’s favorite. Rafael Araujo was selected at #8. Years of cellar-dwelling ensued.

Now where are we? We have a highly respected President & General Manager, Masai Ujiri. The team’s bankroll appears limitless; if not, we wouldn’t have a Development League affiliate. There’s a proper scouting contingent in place. Player development is taken seriously. Free agents want to play for #WeTheNorth. The soon-to-be winningest coach (he’s 3 short of Sam Mitchell) in franchise history, Dwane Casey, remains at the helm.

Contrast our situation with that of the Sacramento Kings. After years of concern about the team leaving the city, a new deep-pocketed owner, Vivek Ranadive, was permitted to purchase the franchise. While the TIBCO founder brought financial and locational certainty, he’s proven to be a serial meddler, most notably as the mover behind the firing last year of coach Mike Malone. The new head man (well, not exactly new, this is his sixth team) is George Karl, who was battling his childish superstar, DeMarcus Cousins, about fourteen seconds after assuming the post.

And what’s the problem in Phoenix? Goran Dragic forced his way out of town and is now a happy HEAT-man, while Markieff Morris has become the latest poster child for petulant behavior by wealthy athletes.

This is not our season, Rapture Nation. There are too many question marks and new faces for an objective observer to describe our group as “elite”. But we’re not far away; we enjoy stability among the suits, and we don’t have the roster distractions other teams are grappling with. We’re well positioned, from a salary-cap perspective, for the seismic summer of 2016. In future posts, we’ll consider what has to happen for our team to join the highest echelon.

Next: New playoff rules affect Raptors

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