As we nearly wrap up the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, it’s clear the competition is as balanced as it’s ever been around the NBA with multiple teams looking like contenders. To put it into perspective, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets who went 16-5 in last year’s postseason run, have been pushed to a game seven against the Minnesota Timberwolves while playing to a point differential of minus-23 in this year's postseason run.
Now what makes this year so different? The level of competition has increased thanks to the mid-season acquisition of ready-now talent. The Indiana Pacers went all-in to acquire Pascal Siakam, the Knicks did the same by acquiring OG Anunoby (coincidentally both from Toronto), and the Dallas Mavericks traded for defensive stoppers in P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.
With “win now” moves having worked for several teams this season, let’s take a look at four times the Toronto Raptors applied this philosophy and see whether it worked – or tanked.
1998: Charles “Sir, yes sir” Oakley
The Raptors finished the 1997-98 season with a franchise-worst 16-66 record, good enough for dead last in the Eastern Conference. Newly appointed GM Glen Grunwald understood that something needed to change after the team lost their star player in Damon Stoudamire just months prior – but who thought that involved acquiring a 35-year-old player past their prime?
After 13 seasons between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks which included 129 playoff appearances, Oakley was traded to the Raptors along with Sean Marks in exchange for 24-year-old center Marcus Camby.
This is not a trade you’d probably see in today’s NBA – Camby was the Raptors 2nd overall pick in the star-studded 1996 draft class, and was coming off a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game, yet dealt with some injury concerns and was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal.
Oakley turned into a big contributor for the Raptors, both on and off the court. The veteran missed only six games in his three-year stint, while starting all but one of those games. Oakley helped guide a young Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, and the Raptors reached the playoffs just two years after that miserable 16-win finish.