Top 3 things Raptors must do to tank for Victor Wembanyama

1. Lean on Scottie Barnes and the young players.

This is one area that has literally no downside. If Barnes becomes a dominant offensive force and the young guys end up showing that they can be high-end two-way players consistently, that’s fantastic! If their numbers don’t translate into wins, that will only help the Raptors in their pursuit of Wembanyama or Henderson.

Barnes is playing some of the best basketball of his career in his new point-center role, but he is still running into difficulties flexing his offensive muscles due to the lack of shot attempts he receives as a starter. The second half of the season needs to be all about making Barnes the featured attraction.

The Toronto Raptors need to make sure Scottie Barnes develops.

Why not let Malachi Flynn and Dalano Banton, both of whom are frozen out of the rotation? Christian Koloko has been pounding G League competition into submission like a meat tenderizer against a tough cut of pork, showing that he should be back in the NBA with regularity.

The Raptors may not be a team that can compete for a championship right now, but it is very clear that they have many of the necessary pieces to accomplish that goal eventually. Developing Barnes should be at the top of Toronto’s list of second-half goals, but Koloko and Flynn could also put some encouraging moments on film.