The wacky world of NBA tanking has those bold teams willing to embrace this controversial mindset coming up with the most ethical and foolproof ways to push the tank forward.
One of the simplest strategies to support a team's efforts to lose is by resting your best players. However, a team would need to approach this strategy carefully to sidestep potential league fines and fan scrutiny. In the latter half of the year, the Toronto Raptors have found themselves in the spotlight, especially as they unfortunately hold the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.
Yet, they’ve still done their best to lead the tank to a successful campaign. The Raptors have essentially been alternating nights when their most effective and impactful players are ruled out to sit on the sidelines for various reasons provided by the team in injury reports.
TSN's Raptors beat reporter, Josh Lewenberg, reiterated the team's strategy in a recent X post, providing further confirmation of their approach.
Toronto's lead guard, Immanuel Quickley, has been one of the more prominent players to be inserted in and out of the active lineup on a consistent basis. It makes a lot of sense, considering how IQ provides the Raptors with a spark in the three-point department and can effectively find his teammates—not exactly the ideal traits needed right now on a tanking squad.
Quickley hasn't had a perfect 2024-25 season, spending a lot of the year on the injured reserve list for Toronto. This is unfortunate, especially since he just signed a lengthy and expensive contract extension last offseason. It took some time for IQ to regain his usual rhythm, but now, as the Raptors head into the final stretch of the season, Quickley is showing his value, even after missing nearly every other game.
Immanuel Quickley thrives for the Raptors, undeterred by his rest days
Just look at what Quickley provided the Raptors in their March 28 matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, posting this impressive stat line: 19 points on 40% shooting from the field, a stellar 5-for-8 from three, and nine assists—all in just 27 minutes of playing time.
In fact, looking at IQ's last 10 games suiting up for the Raptors, his averages reveal a worthwhile investment, even if the competition Toronto has faced hasn't been particularly strong. Quickley has averaged a strong 20.7 points over the last 10 games, shooting 41.7% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc. He’s also contributed six assists and 4.3 rebounds per game during this stretch.
Case in point, any concerns about Quickley's effectiveness, particularly given his hefty price tag and ongoing injury issues, seem to be unfounded. Even with his frequent changes to the lineup, he's showing no signs of rust, which is definitely a positive development.
All we can do as Raptors fans is hope that Quickley can maintain this momentum heading into next season, where he’ll likely remain a focal point of the offense and playmaking, serving as an important piece of Toronto’s core.
He has already shown that he can be a strong starting point guard, but can Quickley defy the odds and prove himself among the elite guards in the NBA's Eastern Conference? Only time will tell.