Had this been the narrative a week ago, one could have reasonably argued that the Toronto Raptors should focus on maintaining competitiveness and nurturing their burgeoning star duo of Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, they have faced yet another setback this season, losing star forward Scottie Barnes to an untimely injury once again.
Barnes went down hard on his right ankle after colliding with Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns' foot on December 9. He wailed on the court, indicating that he couldn't feel his foot. As of now, the Raptors have announced the injury to be a right ankle sprain, with further assessments to follow in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, Toronto will need to revert to their strategic game planning without Barnes in the lineup. Losing Barnes is painful, as he has demonstrated his ability to be a game-changing force, capable of altering the dynamics of any match—whether the Raptors are cruising toward victory or striving to make an impact in defeat.
Considering key guard, Immanuel Quickley, has also been inactive for an extended period, it almost feels as though Raptors fans may never witness their highly touted "BBQ" trio on the court together at full strength anytime soon. Additionally, Bruce Brown's recovery appears to be taking an eternity, leaving his return shrouded in limbo and uncertainty.
The Raptors who continue to lead the charge have demonstrated a gritty spirit in keeping the momentum going, particularly the surprising duo of RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, who proved to be effective during Barnes' first injury stint this season.
In addition to them, reliable contributors such as Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and Ja'Kobe Walter can enhance the team's offensive spark. They are joined by a mix of veterans and rookies who can influence the game in various ways.
Should they truly be content with merely being caught in the middle or just good enough to secure a play-in spot? Masai Ujiri has previously challenged that mindset, famously stating, "Play-in for what? We want to win championships here."
If the Raptors can't get healthy, why bother trying to compete?
They have previously faced a dilemma of a middling core of players who were just good enough to remain competitive, yet unable to surpass the truly elite NBA squads. Consequently, the front office decided to gradually part ways with the remaining key pieces from the Raptors' championship days, including Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam.
The younger vision began to take shape with Scottie Barnes at the forefront, while his supporting co-stars made their way to the Northern uprising. The reality is that, when at full strength, this seemingly rebuilding core has demonstrated the potential to make some noise in the playoffs.
Just consider a starting five composed of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and a rotation of either Ochai Agbaji or Gradey Dick, alongside Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. While they may seem inexperienced, they could easily surprise people in a mediocre Eastern Conference.
However, nearly two months into the season, that is not the case. Adversity consistently nips at Toronto's heels just as they start to gain momentum. If they are going to be without key talent for an extended period, it makes the most sense to proceed with the remaining healthy players and hope they can keep the ship afloat.
With that in mind, they should proceed cautiously if victories start to accumulate. An injury-depleted Raptors squad is unlikely to make a significant impact in the playoffs, so it would be wiser to enhance their lottery odds in order to potentially secure one final piece that could help them overcome the proverbial hump.
Could the Raptors be winning by losing?
Considering the prospect of trading some older Raptors players could be a promising starting point, especially players like Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher. That said, Toronto should take a moment to evaluate the possibility of parting ways with Davion Mitchell, Kelly Olynyk, and Jakob Poeltl, as they could serve as crucial role players in a healthy, competitive Raptors season, which the team hopes will materialize as early as next year.
The right offer could significantly influence the Raptors' mindset, particularly if it allows them to acquire valuable draft capital or to bring in younger players who better fit the same position.
Toronto is not without hope, so don’t expect them to hold a massive fire sale or dismantle the roster. Such a move would be unwise for the front office. Disrupting the team's dynamic by simply offloading several players could seriously harm their chemistry and morale.
Raptors fans have consistently joked about their mastery of the "ethical tank" strategy. They find ways to develop their young talent while keeping games competitive, yet ultimately losing in order to worsen their record and secure a higher draft pick.
While I wouldn't necessarily label it as "tanking", a wise individual like Masai Ujiri and his front office team should recognize that this season holds little value and may be better spent drifting toward the bottom. It's more akin to playing a strategic game of chess than simply tanking and shooting down the ranks in a deliberate manner.
The term "tanking" should be used loosely
Being the absolute worst team in the league is a title no franchise desires to carry, especially considering that the new lottery odds rarely benefit those struggling squads. However, being a middling 11th, 12th, or 13th seed has its advantages, as teams like the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans have demonstrated with their recent lottery luck.
That's precisely the position Toronto should strive to attain, and fans are already confident they'll remain within that threshold as the 2024-25 NBA season progresses.