I hate to sound like a negative Nancy, but the Raptors’ serious lack of depth has been showing lately, especially in the wake of Kawhi Leonard’s injury. That’s not to say the guys on this roster aren’t talented, but do they bring enough of a spark to push this squad over the edge? That’s far from certain.
It’s almost like the “Kawhi Leonard effect” I brought up at various points in the offseason. With so many people touting the Raptors as top-tier contenders, I worried they were overblowing one man’s impact and presence while overlooking a roster and team construction that still needed a lot of work and lacked depth.
Aside from Kawhi’s return and Toronto’s selection of Allen Graves in the draft (a decision I still think was the right one), the Raptors brought in a new veteran to join the fray (much like Garrett Temple in previous seasons) in forward Kyle Anderson. He has a connection to Leonard from their San Antonio days and definitely fits the mold of a prototypical Raptors darling.
The aptly named “SloMo” isn’t the flashiest player in the world, but he makes up for what he lacks in raw athleticism and speed with versatility and a high basketball IQ — a valuable skillset to have on a contender and certainly one fans could appreciate.
Still, I’d argue it wasn’t the smartest move for the Raptors to keep stockpiling one type of player when they should’ve prioritized range and depth — especially shooters, or lower-scale vet signings who could provide a sneaky scoring punch off the bench or in limited minutes. I even remember tweeting after the signing. I was pleased with the pickup, but still urged the Raptors to find a better shooter or a vet with more scoring chops to bolster their depth.
Toronto missed the mark with their Kyle Anderson signing
I respect Anderson’s longevity and reputation around the league, but he simply doesn’t check those boxes for Toronto. He’s also been used rather sparingly this season, only getting real run lately as the Raptors have been forced to find new answers and climb out of a rut.
I know the Raptors were somewhat pigeonholed by their expenses, flexibility, and ability to persuade free agents to come to Toronto. They were probably going to strike out on the bigger names, but I don’t see why they couldn’t have entertained players like Kevin Love, Seth Curry, Doug McDermott, or even Victor Oladipo (who has been campaigning for a way back into the NBA) instead.
Sure, most of those names could be considered “washed” or far from needle-movers. But, as I said, I’m talking about the sneaky value they could offer as veterans who might still make a meaningful on-court impact. Kyle Anderson doesn’t bring that same kind of value — or, at least, he overlaps with players Toronto already has. It’s nothing personal against SloMo, but with the Raptors desperate for answers and so thin on depth, the signing certainly looks like a whiff in hindsight.
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