The Rap-Up: A Landmark Anniversary approaches

Toronto’s final two games before the All-Star break include a reunion with Nick Nurse and Kyle Lowry, and another celebration of Vince Carter.

There’s been a lot of talk throughout Toronto sports media and this site about the Brandon Ingram trade. With the initial shock and subsequent statements by the front office out of the way, Toronto’s direction is taking shape.

1. The tank is still on. Bobby Webster spoke openly about wanting a high draft pick and ensuring the young players and rookies get more opportunities to develop.
2. Ingram is the latest “pre-agency” acquisition for the Raptors. Masai Ujiri famously said in his Media Day presser that “free agency is dead.” The NBA’s worst-kept secret is that players are still reluctant to play for the league’s only Canadian team. Since Scottie Barnes was drafted, the biggest free agent signings have been Dennis Schroder and Otto Porter Jr. They played a combined 74 games with the Raptors and were salary-dumped to lottery teams. Meanwhile, Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, and Ochai Agbaji are all deadline-day trade acquisitions. Forgoing a bidding war (they’d likely lose) for Ingram and getting him for the low, low price of 1 expiring (Bruce Brown), 1 player not in the team’s future (Kelly Olynyk), a second-round pick (2031) for someone that’s currently 12 years old, and a first-round pick (Indiana’s) that won’t be in the lottery.
3. Get ready for eyebrow-raising lineups. Michael Grange reported that Ingram is likely out for at least a month. With the departures of Brown, Olynyk, and Davion Mitchell, we’re about to see a whole lot of Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, and even Ulrich Chomche — all rookies, and none of them drafted in the first round (or at all).
4. Slim Reefer extension coming? Webster was also forthcoming about contract extension discussions with the former All-Star. Depending on what numbers they land on could determine the team’s next steps in the rebuild. Inking Ingram to an annual salary below $40 million should give the team enough wiggle room to fill out the roster without dipping into the luxury tax. If over $40 million, the proverbial countdown clock will have started on RJ Barrett’s time with the team (if it hasn’t already). RJ’s large contract ($57.3 million over the next two seasons) and role redundancy with Ingram make him the latest trade machine favourite.

With the outlook of the team crystalizing, we can all go back to enjoying competitive losses and watching the young players grow. We also get to enjoy watching the 25 other teams that made a trade and figuring out who went where.

February 11 @ Philadelphia 76ers

The Raptors’ final road game before the All-Star break is against the Philadelphia 76ers, a.k.a. the Phoenix Suns of the East, a.k.a. When Big 3s Go Wrong.

I understand why Daryl Morey leveraged the Sixers’ future by signing Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers. It was ridiculously poor asset management by the Clips and Morey swooped in to steal the 9-time All-Star.

Crowning the Sixers as legitimate title contenders always felt…..off. Nobody would have predicted that Philly would be out of a play-in position heading into the All-Star break, but adding a player with a checkered injury history to a lineup with Joel Embiid carried significant risk. Adding the max contract of said player to a payroll that’s already giving max money to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, thus filling out the rest of the roster with ageing veterans (Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry) also carried risk.

The result is a lottery team with (likely) no lottery pick. Five years ago, the Sixers needed to shed salary, so they dumped Al Horford 4-year / $109 million contract on the Oklahoma City Thunder…..along with a top-6 protected pick in the 2025 draft.

The thought of tanking and ensuring a top-6 pick in a stacked draft was not in the Sixers’ plan for 2025. It’s now too late to start throwing games and producing phantom injuries. Philadelphia is pot-committed on Embiid being healthy for the postseason, George improving on stats far below his career averages, and Maxey having energy (2nd in minutes per game) for the stretch run.

Fun fact that may only interest me

You know I love throwing out some player comps!

Player 1: 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 43/37/82 shooting splits

Player 2: 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 47/35/66 shooting splits

Player 1 is Paul George. Player 2 is RJ Barrett.

Before you mention George’s injuries this season and lack of games played, consider this: PG has almost played as many games (32) as Ochai Agbaji has started (35).

Prediction

Toronto has lost its last 4 visits to Philadelphia. While there is always motivation to beat Nick Nurse and/or Embiid, the Raptors are facing a desperate Sixers squad that views this game as a cure to its 3-game losing streak. As of Monday morning, Philadelphia “only” has Jared McCain (out for the season) on the injury report — which is a borderline miracle for the 6th-oldest roster in the league.

The Sixers cover the -6.5 spread.

February 12 vs Cleveland Cavaliers

While the Raptors have been celebrating 30 years of existence, you could argue that the team didn’t arrive until Vince Carter’s iconic Slam Dunk performance during All-Star Weekend in 2000.

On the 25th anniversary — a dunkaversary — the Toronto Raptors will celebrate the occasion at Scotiabank Arena.

As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they’re the only title-contending team to make a significant move at the trade deadline. After cycling through various options at Small Forward, from Isaac Okoro to Caris Levert to Dean Wade to Max Strus, the team was able to nab De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. The emergence of Hunter’s University of Virginia teammate, Ty Jerome — Most Improved Player AND 6th Man of the Year candidate — lightened the blow from losing Levert and Georges Niang. Hunter, also a 6MOY candidate, offers another offensive threat (league-leading 19.0 points off the bench) who can knock down an outside shot (39.3% from three) when Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland or Evan Mobley are eventually double-teamed. The Cavaliers will enter the break with a comfortable lead over the Boston Celtics, with eyes on a bigger prize in the playoffs.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Trae Young was just announced as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury replacement and LaMelo Ball is surely next in line. The Cavaliers already have 3 All-Stars. Jarrett Allen probably won’t be named an All-Star. That’s a shame because he deserves a spot.

Allen currently ranks…

• 1st in Win Shares among all East players
• 1st in Offensive Rating in the NBA
• 3rd in Defensive Rating among all East players
• 3rd in Rebounds among all East players (the other 2 are All-Stars)
• 1st in Field Goal Percentage and Effective Field Goal Percentage among all East players
• 1st in True Shooting Percentage in the NBA

Prediction

Cleveland has won each of the last four and six of the last seven meetings between the teams. Kenny Atkinson and his coaching staff will be headed to All-Star weekend alongside Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley. The Cavaliers started the season with a 30-point drubbing of the Raptors and will look to end the first “half” of the season with a similar result, as Toronto will be without as many as 4 key pieces: Ingram (ankle), Poeltl (hip), Barrett (concussion protocol), and Gradey Dick (concussion protocol).

Toronto covers the +17.5 spread but the Cavaliers come away victorious.

ENJOY ALL-STAR WEEKEND!

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Last Week’s Record: 1-3

Season Record: 23-30