Random thoughts before training camp
The publication of the montage (below) has spurred Yours Truly into (keyboard) action.
Conspicuous by its absence is an image of our Big Three (VanVleet, Siakam, Barnes for me, though your mileage may differ). So, let’s get the team prediction out of the way quickly. The Toronto Raptors will make the postseason, bumping any one of the Bulls, Hawks, and Nets to the play-in tournament. Now let’s make a few individual predictions.
I want to be wrong, but…
Malachi Flynn will be in a different uniform by the trading deadline. Our smallish point guard was disappointing as a sophomore, and will be hard-pressed to retain his spot as the de facto leader of the second unit. He enjoyed a lot of minutes as a rookie, but the Raptors finished with a miserable 27-45 record in the NBA’s second straight truncated season. Last year, with Scottie Barnes taking the world by storm, and Dalano Banton surprising everyone, Malachi couldn’t gain any traction. He was the #29 selection in the draft, so moving on from him will not be viewed as a black eye to our scouts or management.
And speaking of Banton, he too will be elsewhere. While we can never have too many Canadians on the Raptors’ roster, there will be two fewer before the playoffs. Dalano’s egregious turnovers, and poor shooting form, mitigate against him. I don’t get the sense he’s coachable; if he was, he wouldn’t be doing the same nonsense this summer as he was last. Appointing a guaranteed-minutes backup point may not be necessary. Coach Nick Nurse seems quite content with about five different guys bringing up the ball. However, somebody has to be the fourth guard, after Fred, Scottie(!), and Gary Trent on my depth chart. Here’s a capricious choice: Jeff Dowtin.
The second Canadian to drop from sight will be Khem Birch. Where’s he going to play? He was the center by default in a number of games last season, but there’s no pressing need in 2022-23. If our guys play small ball, or Nick’s preferred ‘6-8 variant’, Khem can’t keep up. Nor does he have an outstanding skill we can’t do without. The remarkable development of Scottie and Precious Achiuwa make him redundant as a starter; Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, and Otto Porter likewise off the bench.
On a happier note
Christian Koloko will be playing 20 MPG (not Miles Per Gallon! – who said that? – Minutes Per Game) from about Game 60 on. He’ll get lots of burn with the Raptors 905, but he’ll make the big team in time to be useful in the stretch run. Whether he can be trusted in the playoffs remains to be seen.
Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam will not lead the NBA’s regulars in MPG like they did last season. Both averaged 37.9, which is too much, and creates an open invitation to injury and/or fatigue. The Raptors have juiced their depth with new guy Otto Porter and returnee Thaddeus Young (Juancho Hernangomez and D.J. Wilson?…maybe).
Off topic, but timely
I note with amusement some disgruntled voices out of New York. The Knicks’ front office is said to be perplexed, and perhaps even angry, that they didn’t get another chance to make a final offer for Donovan Mitchell. They were blindsided by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who swooped in with an offer that Utah Jazz head honcho Danny Ainge thought was too good to pass up.
Knicks management needs to put on their big boy pants for once. Ainge was under no obligation to give them another chance; he didn’t break any ‘unspoken agreement’ about giving the previous high bidder a put-up-or-shut-up call. Maybe Cleveland told him Ainge had an hour to agree, or the deal was off the table, but ultimately his reasons for a speedy concurrence don’t matter. If Utah and its new trade partner are happy with the trade as constituted, then sound the buzzer, the game is over. Write up the details, convey the deal to the NBA head office for blessing, and move on.
Is this Twitter whining the latest manifestation of “But we’re the Knicks – we deserve special consideration!”? Here’s my special consideration: “Drop dead…please”.
Utah made out like bandits. They received Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji (all of whom are rotation-grade players, at least), plus three first-round picks, and two pick swaps. Cleveland fans may comfort themselves with the cliche “the team that gets the best player wins the trade”. Most of the time, I’d buy that, but here, I predict the Cavaliers will be ruing this trade within three years, and for a long time after. No wonder Ainge was in a hurry.
- Tags: Toronto Raptors
