The Toronto Raptors are looking to compete next season. They want to win now. Trading for Brandon Ingram last year was a big step in that direction, and now, health permitting, they’ll have a chance to establish themselves in a weakened Eastern Conference. And according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (via a Bleacher Report live stream), they’re not going to stop there:
"This group under head coach Darko [Rajakovic] expects to really be a player in the playoff conversation here in the Eastern Conference," Fischer said. "They don't just want to be a play-in team. They want to be a team that really pushes for the postseason for the first time in quite some time.
"So, what does Bobby Webster have in store now with this full endorsement as head of basketball operations to continue to upgrade this roster? We shall see. But I have the Raptors earmarked already entering this year. It's super early—it's August 20th—but when we get closer to December 15th and we get closer to the February trade deadline, I have the Raptors already earmarked as a buyer."
What does this mean for the Raptors?
The Eastern Conference is as wide-open as it's been in a long, long time. Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury will severely hinder the Boston Celtics, and Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury is slated to do the same to the Indiana Pacers.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be ample competition in the East. The Orlando Magic just traded for Desmond Bane, the New York Knicks just swapped out Tom Thibodeau for Mike Brown, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be building on their second-best regular season in franchise history. But the Raptors will still have an opening.
Toronto has made some moves of its own. Obviously, they added Ingram at last season’s deadline, but he has yet to appear in a game for the organization. This summer, they drafted Collin Murray-Boyles, signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, and parted ways with long-time leader Masai Ujiri. There has been a lot of change up North in recent months.
But now, it seems as though the team has a clear direction: Win.
They will make trades if they need to. They will swap out pieces that don’t fit. They will do everything they can to put themselves in the best possible position to succeed.
So, as next season unfolds, keep a very close eye on the Raptors, because big swings could be coming sooner than most people think.