Raptors News: Olynyk extension, Warriors trade, key injuries, making the playoffs

The Toronto Raptors had a tumultuous week as they seek to learn their new identity coming out of the NBA Trade Deadline. The week began with an upset victory over the Indiana Pacers, balancing the ledger after losing Pascal Siakam's homecoming the week before. That win last Tuesday was followed by a pair of competitive games against the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors that ultimately ended in double-digit losses.

Finally, the Raptors took down the Charlotte Hornets while playing without several key players, signaling their intentions to continue fighting in every game down the stretch. 21 games and five weeks remain in the regular season and will decide whether Toronto is still playing or heading on vacation once the clock strikes midnight on the season.

Let's dig into everything that happened and some of the best things written from the past week of Raptors basketball. It's Tuesday, so it's time for Raptors News!

How the Raptors make the playoffs

The Toronto Raptors owe a top-6 protected first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs from the Jakob Poeltl trade, and if their goal was to try and keep that pick they would be going through roster and lineup shenanigans to tank. Instead, even when short-handed, the Raptors are clearly trying their best to win basketball games.

Will it be enough to make the postseason? They currently sit 3.5 games back of the 10th-place Atlanta Hawks, and they will need to pass both Atlanta and the Brooklyn Nets to qualify for the Play-In Tournament. They will need to take advantage of a beatable schedule ahead of them, and one way to boost their chances is for head coach Darko Rajakovic to lean into this strategic decision in the games to come.