Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Raptors rookie scale extension decisions should be easy

By Brian Boake

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 1: Pascal Siakim and President Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors speaks during a camper welcome at the Basketball Without Boarders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2018 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 1: Pascal Siakim and President Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors speaks during a camper welcome at the Basketball Without Boarders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2018 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Raptors must decide whether to retain three young players on rookie-scale contracts. The easiness of two of those decisions is a tribute to quality scouting.

The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement [CBA] has regulations governing all aspects of the financial relationships between teams and their players. One of the tedious subsections deals with rookie-scale contracts.

The Toronto Raptors have three players who are in effect at the mercy of team management as to whether their options for 2019-20 will be picked up. They are:

These rights extend to first-round selections only.

I’m intrigued by these decisions because they are a referendum, so to speak, on each team’s recent drafts. For Masai Ujiri’s Raptors, Richardson, the only youngster not selected by our team, represents the toughest decision. The option must be picked up by October 31, and I’d wager no decision on him will be made until the last minute. I don’t like his chances; Toronto has swingmen hanging from the rafters.

The other two aren’t “on the bubble” at all, and I expect the team will make an announcement confirming the options, thereby retaining their services for at least this season and next. For Pascal, the #27 pick in 2016, and OG, chosen at #23 in 2017, it’s a relief. For Masai and his scouts, it’s vindication.

I doubt San Antonio will have any hesitation in picking up Jakob Poeltl’s option either.

Highly questionable decisions

We contrast the Raptors’ late-first-round success with the perennial doormat Sacramento Kings. They have to make decisions on:

Is there any one of these fellows who screams “I’m a no-brainer!”? They will probably keep all of them based on potential, but each one has giant question marks around his future. Fox is the easiest Yes, followed by Giles, whom they have waited for and won’t give up on now.

More from Raptors Rapture

Then consider the Phoenix Suns, who selected Dragan Bender with the #4 pick, or 23 ahead of Pascal. Who would you rather have? They will give Bender the benefit of the doubt, I suspect, but without much enthusiasm.

When a team whiffs on a lottery pick, or has to wait a long time for a payback (Bender is only 20 years old – maybe he’ll be a star someday), the result can be so painful for its fans.

The Raptors are likely fated to be choosing in the twenties or much later for several more years. Continuing its success with these picks might be the crowning achievement of Masai’s team.

[thanks to two of my favourite sites, hoops rumors, and basketball-reference, for salary & draft data]

Home/Raptors News