The Raptors begin their 30th NBA season amid little on-court fanfare, absolutely zero expectations and a general feeling that losing will be tolerated if the lottery lands Toronto a high draft pick.
The franchise basked in the glow of Friday’s court refurbishment on the same west-end site Vince Carter unveiled the playing surface more than 20 years ago.
As is his custom, Raptors chairman Masai Ujiri implored everyone to let bygones be bygones when he officially announced Carter’s No. 15 jersey will be the franchise’s first to be retired at halftime of a Nov. 2 tip against the visiting Sacramento Kings.
Ujiri was once again front and centre Monday at Scotiabank Arena as the Raptors conducted their annual exercise known as media day, the prelude to the official start of training camp.
Thirty years ago, the franchise had a rookie NBA head coach in Brendan Malone, the late and great veteran who demanded discipline, who preferred veteran players, a position that was at odds with management, which wanted to showcase its young pieces, many of whom were not good.
A rookie point guard in Damon Stoudamire would emerge as the league’s top rookie, the original face of the franchise whose dynamic playing style was instrumental in leading the Raptors to their early defining moment — a victory over Michael Jordan and the 72-win Chicago Bulls in front of 36,000 fans at SkyDome.
Isiah Thomas didn’t have the eloquence of Ujiri, but the former NBA champion point guard with the Detroit Pistons knew basketball in ways Ujiri never will.
What Thomas didn’t know was how to play the political game the right way that promotes longevity.
In John Bitove Jr., the Raptors had a very committed and passionate owner, a visionary whose ultimate objection could not be achieved once the fateful shotgun clause in November of 1997 was triggered, initiating a series of franchise-altering moves from all levels.
Thirty years later and one is asked to wonder what precisely has changed and what exactly will change, especially this season.
No one needed to be reminded, but Ujiri acknowledged the Raptors are in a rebuild.
“We have a clear path going forward,” said Ujiri, who was the first to address the assembled gathering. “We’re a young team, a growing team.
“You can see that loud and clear.”
Naturally, his relationship, real or imagined, with Edward Rogers became a topic.
Truth be told, fans of the Raptors shouldn’t care less and should pay even less attention to the machinations of ownership when all that matters is the on-court product.
Five years will soon elapse since the 2019 title run and it’s time to stop viewing Ujiri as some sort of messiah.
No one is indispensable and when Ujiri’s time in Toronto runs out, which it probably will once Rogers takes complete control of MLSE, he will move on, much like the Raptors.
“It’s business as usual,” Ujiri assured.
The Raptors are in the business of winning and entertaining.
Winning will not be easy this season, similar to last season, when only 25 games were won.
Way back in the expansion year, the Raptors won 21 games.
Stoudamire was a much more entertaining player than Scottie Barnes, the player the current iteration of the Raptors have decided to build around.
Like Stoudamire, Barnes — a player whom the Raptors drafted fourth overall in the wake of the team’s Tampa tank job — earned NBA rookie honours.
In terms of size and skill, no player in Raptors history has this unique combination like Barnes.
During his Monday availability, Barnes spoke of leadership and how better communication will help as he takes the next step in his evolution.
He talked about the need to avoid the inevitable frustration when the losses mount.
He used the terms ‘baby steps,’ and ‘game by game,’ expressions teams with a much loftier goal than the Raptors do not even contemplate.
“We have to focus on the big picture,’’ he said.
Shooting will be an issue, much like it was last season. As will size, much like it was last season.
Hopefully there’s no Jontay Porter crisis to navigate.
There certainly won’t be any trades of their core pieces similar to the moves made last year when OG Anunoby was traded to the New York Knicks and Pascal Siakam was dealt to the Indiana Pacers.
The trio of Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett is under contract as the unit will be asked to shoulder a large role.
The team’s only legitimate big is Jakob Poeltl, whose injury absence last season was painfully obvious.
But when a centre such as the affable Austrian is approaching 30 years old on a team whose core is in its early 20s, something must give.
Darko Rajakovic will at least be given a clean slate following the wreckage that was his rookie season as head coach.
His post-game rant following a loss to the host L.A. Lakers is the sole moment people will remember.
The hand Rajakovic was dealt was pretty bad and it was reflected in how badly the Raptors played, especially on defence.
Perhaps a better judgment on his head coaching chops will be revealed this season, but it’s doubtful because the roster isn’t good.
The Darko era began with an opening-night win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, who were held under 100 points.
You can count on one hand how many times the Raptors would win another game by keeping their opposition under 100 points.
A 44-point home loss to the Knicks was embarrassing, only to hit rock bottom when the host T’Wolves destroyed the Raptors by 45 points.
As the 30th anniversary season begins, fans should not expect much of this group.
Celebrations and moments of honouring the past will be ushered in.
It says quite a bit when the present state of the franchise barely resonates.
Welcome to the rebuild.
At the same time, a healthy Barnes, who is fully engaged and is properly managed and pushed, has the potential to make life at least tolerable.
When the Raptors are truly relevant, there’s no assurance Ujiri will be around to call the shots.