Plenty of questions this time around about the NBA’s trade deadline and the standings.
The Raptors are now more than halfway through their 2024-25 season, and the NBA’s trade deadline is less than three weeks away, landing on Feb. 6. That makes now as good a time as ever for another Raptors mailbag.
Thanks as always for the questions, which can be sent my way either on social media or through email.
From Dan: After watching the Raps win back-to-back games against Golden State and Boston, I really struggle to see them properly tanking into a bottom 3 record. Given the team’s play when healthy, how many wins do you think they finish the season with, and where would that rank them in the standings?
RW: I wouldn’t worry too much about those strong performances becoming a trend. Yes, Toronto has just switched from facing the toughest schedule in the NBA (on paper) to the weakest the rest of the way, but a number of factors lead me to believe they’ll be in the mix for a Top 4 pick.
They have shown no ability to stay healthy all year. One more significant injury (in addition to Immanuel Quickley’s latest) will decrease their competitiveness significantly — particularly if Scottie Barnes or Jakob Poeltl go down.
The other teams in Toronto’s general range in the standings all have enough talent (other than Washington) to win games here and there the way the Raptors will. Brooklyn is selling off, but is four wins ahead of the Raptors; Charlotte just lost No. 2 player Brandon Miller for weeks, but still isn’t a total disaster; New Orleans finally got Zion Williamson back, Brandon Ingram won’t be far behind and there’s a decent team hidden away there; Even Utah has won three of 10 and surely will improve on its 3-10 home record (one of the worst marks ever for a traditional home power).
My best guess is 14-26 the rest of the way for a 24-58 record. That should be either the fourth or fifth-worst in the NBA, meaning either a 12.5% or 10.5% shot at Cooper Flagg and a 42.1%-48.1% crack at the Top 4.
From Ryan (not me): Is there a market for RJ Barrett, or are we stuck with his defence?
RW: Barrett has certainly struggled at that end of the floor for much of the season and prior, but as former head coach Dwane Casey used to say, he’s “told on himself” a few times lately by showing that he can lock in there at times. The Boston game was a notable example. Barrett has the size, strength and athleticism to do better on defence, though offence will always be his bread and butter. I sometimes think of DeMar DeRozan as a comparable, but believe Barrett is a lot better defensively than DeRozan was around that age. Speaking of which, Barrett is only 24, has taken major strides offensively since becoming a Raptor, and still has upside and is on a solid contract. Not convinced Barrett and Gradey Dick can co-exist in a starting lineup (unless solid defenders Poeltl and Barnes are joined by prime Gary Payton), but I wouldn’t give either away. Barrett definitely has trade value, but can’t see him being moved this season.
From Mark: Rank in order the Raptors most likely to be moved. Any chance the Raps make a move to actually improve the team, given that they actually played well recently, and have a relatively easy schedule for their remaining games.
RW: No to the second part. They aren’t going to trade assets to get better now since they are in a rebuild. Far more likely is acquiring assets (like second-round picks or “second draft” candidates in exchange for taking on some salary the rest of this season and possibly into next as long as it isn’t too much.
Chris Boucher probably has played his way into most moveable range of the guys they are considering dealing. He has a smallish, expiring contract, can stretch the floor, rebound and bring energy off the bench. Don’t think it would be hard to find a new home for Davion Mitchell either (smaller contract, heading to restricted free agency) but he could stay given the Quickley situation and his defensive prowess. Bruce Brown has played well lately and teams covet him, but his $23 million US contract isn’t the easiest to fit into a deal. Even though Kelly Olynyk is finally looking more like himself after his back injury, the guaranteed $13.4 million he’s owed next season logically could scare off suitors unless they are sending back money that goes into that season too, along with, say, a couple of second-round picks.
From G Man (the Wizards mascot?): Can we trade Scottie too?
RW: This was sent (likely tongue in cheek) after Barnes had a stinker against Milwaukee, but even with that bad game, he’s still having one of the best months of his career. The team is catering to Barnes and has anointed him as its franchise player. While all of that is probably premature, he’s still easily the most talented player on the team and isn’t going anywhere.
From Dan: From my spot on the couch, the crowd seems louder than it has been since the championship run. Is that your perception from actually being at the games?
RW: Not sure about since the title run, but definitely feel Scotiabank Arena has been much louder in recent weeks than any time over the last couple of seasons. Part of it is the quality of opponents. Since Dec. 5, we’ve seen Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Steph Curry and the defending champion Boston Celtics come to town. Many fans have been cheering loudly for individual players such as those. Also, a lot of tickets for the January games were Christmas and holiday presents. In other words, younger, more vocal fans tended to be at these games than the regular, corporate type of crowds.
@WolstatSun