Toronto Raptors: Pros and cons of making the playoffs in 2020-21
By Matthew Chiu
Con: Lower draft pick
There’s a reason why so many Raptors fans are rooting for losses. This is one of the best draft classes in recent memory. The class is led by names like Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Suggs. The top 5 in this class are expected to be huge impacts for their new teams and would be #1 pick worthy had they been in other draft classes.
That being said, it’s widely agreed upon that there’s a significant drop-off after the top 5. Though there’s still a good crop of players such as Scottie Barnes, Moses Moody, and Corey Kispert. None bring the same impact and potential that the top 5 bring.
What are the current lottery odds for the Toronto Raptors?
As of now, the Raptors have the tenth best odds at the No. 1 pick with a 3% chance and have a 13.9% chance at a top four pick. They’ve been teetering around the 7-10 range, and while the odds at these positions aren’t great, these odds are definitely enough to believe you have a chance at one of the top 5 players should they crash out of the playoffs.
The 4 teams with the best odds will likely be Orlando, Minnesota, Houston, and Detroit. Toronto is unlikely to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have basically thrown in the towel for the season, so that leaves 5 teams behind them in the standings.
At best, the Raptors can get the sixth-best odds, currently held by Cleveland at 20-36. If they miss the postseason, that could be a goal worth shooting for.