The Toronto Raptors met a visiting San Antonio Spurs squad at Scotiabank Arena on March 23—two teams that are certainly just trying to reach the finish line, as their respective seasons have been tumultuous, to say the least.
For San Antonio, a season-ending blood clot issue for generational superstar Victor Wembanyama put an unfortunate end to their hopes of reaching the play-in tournament. As for Toronto, most Raptors fans are well aware of the rollercoaster ride that has characterized the 2024-25 campaign, capped off by a surprise move to acquire former All-Star Brandon Ingram at this year's trade deadline.
Despite both teams struggling with their own respective issues, it was the valiant Spurs who rallied to a blowout victory in Toronto, led by a dominant performance from talented wing Devin Vassell, who scored 25 points in San Antonio's impressive 123-89 win.
An interesting point would be made during the broadcast, as veteran TSN commentator Jack Armstrong addressed the Raptors' roster construction, focusing on how much money is tied up in the core players and the need for Toronto to allocate funds wisely moving forward.
This isn't a topic that hasn't been explored before; in fact, I've touched on various elements of this issue in previous pieces, especially after the Raptors secured Ingram with a long-term extension. The matter of the salary cap and sorting out roster kinks is certainly a pressing concern.
Armstrong is usually pretty blunt in his broadcasting style, never hesitating to call out specific players, whether they're on the Raptors or an opposing team; he calls it as he sees it.
In the attached X clip link below, you can listen to what Armstrong had to say and read the additional quote in the X post for convenience. It clearly expresses his views on how he believes Toronto should approach their player outlook.
Raptors commentator Jack Armstrong comments on team's roster situation
Jack Armstrong:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) March 23, 2025
“The top-3 guys are going to make significant dollars. Once you get past that, every penny, you’re going to have to spend wisely.”
“The guys you pay, you better produce. And if they don’t? You better get them moved on.” pic.twitter.com/tLF3bP1ZKP
Of course, the "top-3 guys" that Armstrong is referring to are Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley. You could perhaps include RJ Barrett in that mix as well, but he's more than likely not a building block moving forward, especially given recent rumors suggesting he was already explored as an asset on the trade market.
Armstrong didn’t hold back in his comments, saying that for those who earned a big payday, they better live up to every dollar and then some; otherwise, Toronto should act quickly and reroute them elsewhere.
A franchise should reward those who deliver on their value and find a new home for those who aren’t worth keeping around (while they still can). That’s largely why the rumor mill has identified Barrett as the unfortunate tradable scapegoat for addressing the Raptors' current clunky roster.
We still have some time before the 2025 NBA Draft and the subsequent offseason, so questions from the Raptors community will have to stay front and center until that critical period arrives. However, it's clear that even figures closely associated with the Raptors, like Jack Armstrong, are chiming in and acknowledging that the team needs to manage its roster with due diligence.