Raptors: Winners and Losers as first half of 2022-23 season ends

Winner: The “Tank for Victor” crowd

The small, vocal minority who believes that the Raptors should completely detonate the roster and go after arguably the best NBA Draft prospect we’ve seen in a decade has started to increase in size over the course of the season. The Raptors need to start winning fast, or the decision-makers might join in with this crowd.

The Raptors currently have the seventh-best odds at Wembanyama, though they are 8.5 games away from catching the last-place Pistons and earning the best shot at him. If they want him, they need to step up their efforts to make a run at a game-changer like Wembanyama.

Will the Toronto Raptors land Victor Wembanyama?

Wembanyama is absolutely a prospect worth tanking for. Being a 7-3 center with great athleticism and a soft touch around the basket would make him the top pick most years, but adding some legitimate guard skills in terms of ball-handling and shooting make him a true phenom.

Consolation prize Scoot Henderson may give Toronto a franchise point guard, as he would be an unquestioned top pick in 95% of drafts. The Raptors may want to contend, but the movement to lean further into a rebuild has gained some steam over the last few weeks.