Without a doubt, my top wish for the Raptors' reward after such a rollercoaster season is to secure the highest possible selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
However, the universe has made their journey to "Capture the Flagg" much more challenging than many fans had hoped.
I mentioned this in one of my previous articles, where I discussed Toronto's strategy of tanking for a high lottery pick. However, it might turn out that the Raptors have too many cooks in the kitchen. They have plenty of talented players who can score and earn minutes, but I’m not sure they can accommodate everyone.
That said, some players are likely to be left out, and their development or integration into the Raptors' outlook might be a slow process, especially in the impending case of a rookie's arrival. While concerns are emerging about the Raptors' tanking efforts, there is also some silver lining in their ability to secure wins, even if that’s not their primary goal.
Unlike the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, or the recent iterations of the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets—teams that have solidified their reputations as some of the weakest in the NBA—the Toronto Raptors have not built a legacy on being a miserable franchise (no offence). More often than not, they have been constructed to be a winning team, not one that emphasizes losing.
Raptors' ability to win (even when unwelcome) reflect their strong culture
I’m not even just being a fanboy when I say this. Can you recall any point in the last decade where the Raptors were clearly constructed to lose games? It's hard to pinpoint one, isn’t it?
Even during the seasons when their performance faltered, like the 2020-21 Tampa season or last year’s campaign, the Raptors were still aiming for a playoff spot. As the season unfolded, it became clear they just hadn’t done enough to compete as prime-time players in the Eastern Conference and abandoned ship.
What do you call that, then?
Winning culture has to be at the root of it all, until it just isn't anymore.
Think about what Masai Ujiri has shown over the years too, regardless of how successful or risky his business practices may be. Ujiri has constantly preached that failure and mediocrity is not an option for the Toronto Raptors. Regardless of how this season has unfolded, I believe it is a testament to the Raptors’ culture, hustle, and fighting spirit that drives them to victory, even when winning isn't their goal.
Considering their roster, which is comprised of hungry players eager to prove themselves in the relentless NBA landscape, both the veterans and the young talent stand to benefit. This situation can only enhance their vision of what a fully healthy, well-balanced, and competitive Raptors team could become.
I can only imagine what the vibes are like on teams like the Hornets and Wizards—two franchises that have been navigating rebuilds and top draft picks for what seems like forever. Yet they haven't quite turned their luck around, unlike successful rebuilding squads like the Orlando Magic (before all the unlucky injuries, of course) or the Detroit Pistons.
It’s uncertain what Brandon Ingram will bring to Toronto, and the team finds itself in a difficult position, unsure of how he will fit in with the current roster. Be that as it may, I still genuinely believe the Raptors are just a stroke of luck or two away from finding themselves on a similar upward trajectory, largely thanks to the strong culture that has brought them success in the past.
While Toronto still has its flaws, and fans in Raptors Nation are right to feel frustrated that their rebuilding efforts haven't yielded the same results as other teams, consider this: would you prefer to be known as the outright terrible team or the one that, despite being mixed in with the mediocre, is fundamentally better constructed overall?