Raptors news: GM survey disrespects Raps, TOR misses star in mock draft

The bloom is well and truly off the proverbial rose as it pertains to the Toronto Raptors, as the league is not nearly as fearful of Masai Ujiri’s uniquely run outfit to the north as they were in the past season. Not only is their roster getting regarded as generally substandard, but the team as a whole isn’t viewed in the same light.

The Raptors were not held in very high regard by the rest of the GMs in the league. The annual preseason survey of the decision-makers around the league saw the mystique of Toronto’s much-hyped home atmosphere get punctured while their new roster additions were downplayed.

Just one year removed from Scotiabank Arena being ranked as the No. 1 home-court advantage in the league, they fell all the way to a tie for fifth place. The players and coaches the opposing squad goes up against inside Scotiabank aren’t keeping anyone up late at night.

On top of the fact that OG Anunoby was not included in the best individual defensive players discourse, new head coach Darko Rajakovic was tied for just fourth place in the category of “Which new or relocated head coach will make the biggest impact on his new team?”

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More Raptors news

• Scotiabank Arena recently unveiled a $350 million renovation that brings the old arena into the modern age. Some of the new amenities fans might be able to get a taste of at Raptors games include new club seats, food and beverage options, retail areas, and the nebulous “state-of-the-art technological innovations.”
• In Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock draft, the San Antonio Spurs, using the pick they will likely acquire from the Raptors, used the No. 8 choice in the 2024 NBA Draft on 6-6 UConn guard Stephen Castle. With his best traits being shooting and isolation scoring, Castle would make a fine Raptor.

NBA news

• After spending the last four years as a top assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, Teresa Weatherspoon is taking the Becky Hammon route and making the jump to the WNBA. Weatherspoon was named head coach of the Chicago Sky. She is replacing James Wade, who joined the Raptors as an assistant.
• Adrian Wojnarowski has hinted the league is looking at potentially expanding, with Seattle and Las Vegas standing out at the very top of the list of potential sites. The league has shown a team in Seattle can work and be supported, and LeBron James wants to make one succeed in Las Vegas as an owner. James said owning a team in Vegas “makes sense.”

Will the Raptors get more respect in league circles this season?

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