Time to reconsider all positions
The Toronto Raptors rolled out another minor-league roster on March 20 against the Sacramento Kings, and got embarrassed by a 123-89 count. That’s not a reason to write this post, but here’s one that is: Jontay Porter managed fewer than three minutes on court before heading to the dressing room, not to return. He was listed on the following morning’s injury report as “ill”, which is unfortunate, and we wish him a speedy return to health.
The Raptors are undergoing a dreadful period of bad luck. Porter’s departure left exactly one true center, Kelly Olynyk, to finish the hopeless game. The Raptors were also without anyone resembling a true point guard, as Immanuel Quickley was not in service for “personal” reason(s). We can only hope his issue is not as serious as that of RJ Barrett. Lacking any significant paint defense, the Raptors surrendered 18 offensive rebounds.
I’m getting sidetracked, and want to move from the particular, i.e., this dreadful game, to the Raptors dilemma at center. Today’s NBA suddenly features a glut of young, dazzling centers. The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and OKC’s Chet Holmgren are likely to split all the the Rookie of the Year votes. Two unicorns in the same season? Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis may be undersized, but his numbers are huge. Nikola Jokic (is he the world’s best player?) and Joel Embiid are still doing their thing, and I strongly suggest watching out for Deandre Ayton. Rudy Gobert is helping the rise of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shall I go on?
Not even when everyone’s healthy…
By comparison, the Raptors employ the services of Jakob Poeltl (out until who-knows-when with an injured finger), Chris Boucher, Olynyk and Porter. I submit that Poeltl, normally the starter, is not a championship-grade center. While his defense and rebounding is competent, and he’s capable of hitting short shots, he can’t contribute from deep, or even the mid-range. Perhaps such a deficiency would have been acceptable a few years ago, but it isn’t any longer. Jokic has made 662 3-pointers in his career, which is exactly the number more than Poeltl.
Having said that, I’m not in league with the pearl-clutchers who think the Raptors never should have made the deal which returned Jakob to our team, or offered the contract extension which he signed. His skills are essential to playing winning hoops, but they aren’t sufficient. Jakob is playing in the wrong era. That can’t be helped, obviously, so let’s move on.
Olynyk has signed a contract extension also, which I’m OK with, though it was an overpay for a man of his vintage and limited D. Now we know we have two capable backup centers, and no true starter. Is such a center waiting in the draft lottery? We can hope.
Meanwhile, bear this in mind: Masai Ujiri can audition a dozen swingmen, but until he nails the center position, the Raptors won’t be ready to win.
Farewell, ‘small ball’ – we hardly knew ye.
- Tags: Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors
