Category: 📁 Sport Takes

Hey Raptors Report.

Thanks a lot for replying to me and others, and sharing your thoughts and evaluation on Quickley and everything else, it's so enjoyable to listen to such an intelligent and well researched person like you talk about Raptors and basketball! Again, I admit I didn't even watch this particular video so I'm not debating specific things you said in it, and for instance upgrading to prime Curry straight up from Quickley might be worth it 🙂

While I'm nitpicking words a bit, one thing I have learned to try and do is to not assume what others are thinking or that everyone sees things the same as I do or the current consensus does. As an example, there may be people that might not even recognize Quickley as struggling much this year, and might evaluate the situation differently. Because of adding Ingram he is the 4th option on the team and is playing unselfish, he's shooting a career high 52% 2PT, a respectable 36% 3PT the same as LaMelo Ball, an excellent and career high 3.7/1 AST/TO, a career high 1.3 STL, he plays much harder on defense and makes less money than many PG who one might consider upgrades, and he has a solid 17 PPG, which is lower because of him being the 4th option and not taking way more shots or steal the ball away from RJ more like VanVleet would have done 🙂

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Here's my idea to help turn Gradey into his own version of Slim Shady, with him coming back strong in a different gear after starting off wrong in a difficult year.

• I like how Darko Rajakovic seems to talk quite a bit about and appears to work very diligently to always develop all facets of all player's games constantly, and I'm sure that strategy and focus has payed huge dividends in many players reaching their long-term potential.
• I wonder if a bit more balance towards simplification of a player's role might be good at certain times or years. Mainly, I wonder if having Gradey Dick simplify his game to focus on shooting for the next 1.5 seasons might make sense now, with less dribbling, scoring, passing.

Here are my predictions for the 2025-2026 NBA standings, ranked by western and eastern conferences. I think the western conference in particular may be as hard to predict as ever this year.

Western Conference

• 1 - Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2 - Denver Nuggets
• 3 - Los Angeles Clippers
• 4 - Memphis Grizzlies
• 5 - Dallas Mavericks
• 6 - Minnesota Timberwolves
• ----
• 7 - Houston Rockets
• 8 - Phoenix Suns
• 9 - San Antonio Spurs
• 10 - Golden State Warriors
• ----
• 11 - New Orleans Pelicans
• 12 - Los Angeles Lakers
• 13 - Sacramento Kings
• 14 - Portland Trail Blazers
• 15 - Utah Jazz

Eastern Conference

• 1 - Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2 - New York Knicks
• 3 - Milwaukee Bucks
• 4 - Toronto Raptors
• 5 - Philadelphia 76ers
• 6 - Boston Celtics
• ----
• 7 - Indiana Pacers
• 8 - Miami Heat
• 9 - Orlando Magic
• 10 - Charlotte Hornets
• ----
• 11 - Atlanta Hawks
• 12 - Detroit Pistons
• 13 - Chicago Bulls
• 14 - Washington Wizards
• 15 - Brooklyn Nets

• Barrett - Bench - 30 MPG 2025 vs 32 MPG 2024
• Gradey - Start - 24 MPG 2025 vs 30 MPG 2024
• Barrett scores as 6th man, Gradey shoots
• Barrett in for Gradey, SF when Ingram out
• Agbaji/Murray/Walter can start some too
• Walter bench PG when Barrett bench

Raptors Lineup And Depth Chart 2025

Because of the importance of shooting in NBA today, I see a potential alternative vision to success for Raptors in the short-term, with Ingram All-Star at 26 PPG, Quickley All-Star at 23 PPG, Dick at 16 PPG, Barnes All-Defense at 16 PPG and 9+ APG, passing to great shooters.

J-Dogs - Jamal (Jam), Ja'Kobe (Ja), Jamison (Jame), Jonathan (Jon), and Jul'Rich (Jul) are all dogs on the court who play defense, work hard, have fun, play together, and put up a fight no matter who they face.

Catching Up With The Raptors Sophomores - YouTube

Here's the lineup and depth chart that I think the Raptors should go with for the start of the 2025-26 season, given the current roster.

Lineup

• PG - Quickley - Walter - Shead
• SG - Dick - Agbaji - Battle - Temple
• SF - Ingram - Barrett - Roddy/Lawson
• PF - Barnes - Murray - Mogbo
• C - Poeltl - Chomche - Mamukelashvili
• 2W - Chomche, Martin, Hepburn

Notes

• Dick in starting lineup for catch-and-shoot 3PTs
• Barrett on the bench for ball handling and scoring
• Walter on the bench for more shooting over Shead
• Chomche on the bench for defense and development
• Barnes plays some small ball 5 for shooting, often to finish
• Murray/Barnes do ball handling for bench that guards lack

New Crew Value - 2025 Rebuild vs. 2013 Rebuild

• PG - Quickley 26 > Lowry 27 / Walter 20 > Vazquez 28
• SG - Dick 21 > Ross 22 / Agbaji 25 > Salmons 34
• SF - Ingram 27 = DeRozan 24 / Barrett 25 >> Patterson 24
• PF - Barnes 24 >> Johnson 26 / Murray 20 >> Hansbrough 28
• C - Poeltl 29 < Valanciunas 21 / Chomche 19 >> Hayes 30
• Much more youth and potential to grow better into future
• Top young draft picks already in place over decent veterans
• Team is young so will need/play veterans more if playoffs

Here's one potential trade and draft idea for the Raptors this offseason, which might be one way to help accomplish a possible big picture overall strategy and lineup configuration that is also suggested and outlined.

May 22, 2025 - Original

Rockets

• Poeltl
• Agbaji
• Shead
• Mogbo

Raptors

• 10th Pick - 2025
• J. Smith
• Sheppard
• 2nd Round - 2026 & 2027

Raptors Draft

• 9th - Bryant or Coward
• 10th - Wolf or Fleming
• 39th - Shulga or S. James, Tonje or Lanier

Raptors Free Agent

• Horford (3PT + FT + Experience)
• Lopez (3PT + FT + Experience)
• T. Bryant (3PT + FT + Young)
• Looney for now (Rebounding + Pass + Exp)
• Capela for now (Rebounding + Screen + Exp)
• Drummond for now (Rebounding + Size + Exp)

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If the Raptors end up getting Cooper Flagg in the NBA draft and keep Poeltl, then I think they should move Poeltl to the bench and start Flagg or Barnes at center, with the goal of getting more shooting into both the starting lineup and the bench.

My Lineup

• Quickley, Agbaji, Ingram, Barnes, Flagg
• Walter, Barrett, Dick, Boucher, Poeltl

Notes

• More shooting starting, and Boucher to win
• RJ or Poeltl play more than Agbaji most games
• Barrett to bench for handling and scoring
• Battle is the 11th guy for more shooting

Raptors Path Forward 2024

I think "Lion" or "The Lion" would be a great nickname for Scottie Barnes.

• He attacks at close range but can surprise you from distance
• He is fast and can glide across the court at high speeds
• He has the size and skills to be a King Of The Jungle
• He works together with a coalition and likes to Roarrrr
• He protects the other players and people that are in his team
• The nickname isn't too well-known or used by someone else

I wonder if Raptors may be too good to get high 2025 pick, especially with Poeltl/Brown/Boucher. Mitchell/Agbaji/Vezenkov/Olynyk are older. Mogbo/Shead/Carlson are older prospects who can play now. Dick/Walter are young but can shoot. Barnes/Quickley/Barrett are poised to breakout.

• Jordan 3, Pippen 5, Grant 10, *Harper 8
• Robinson 1, Elliott 3, Duncan 1
• Tatum 3, Brown 3, Smart 6, *Irving 1
• DeRozan 8, Valanciunas 5, Ross 8
• Curry 7, Thompson 11, Barnes 7, *Bogut 1
• Barnes 4, ???, ???, *Barrett 3

Notes

• My 2024 draft trade idea
• Shooting & defense with Barnes
• Get younger with Reed/Jabari
• Lose 1 year, get high 2025 pick

Rockets

• Jakob Poeltl
• Bruce Brown
• Chris Boucher

Raptors

• Reed Sheppard (2024 #3)
• Jabari Smith
• Steven Adams
• Jeff Green
• Jae Tate

Here are my predictions for the 2023-2024 NBA standings, ranked by western and eastern conferences.

Western Conference

• 1 - Phoenix Suns
• 2 - Denver Nuggets
• 3 - Golden State Warriors
• 4 - New Orleans Pelicans
• 5 - Oklahoma City Thunder
• 6 - Sacramento Kings
• ----
• 7 - Los Angeles Clippers
• 8 - Dallas Mavericks
• 9 - Minnesota Timberwolves
• 10 - Houston Rockets
• ----
• 11 - Los Angeles Lakers
• 12 - Portland Trail Blazers
• 13 - Memphis Grizzlies
• 14 - San Antonio Spurs
• 15 - Utah Jazz

Eastern Conference

• 1 - Boston Celtics
• 2 - Milwaukee Bucks
• 3 - Philadelphia 76ers
• 4 - Toronto Raptors
• 5 - Cleveland Cavaliers
• 6 - Miami Heat
• ----
• 7 - Indiana Pacers
• 8 - Atlanta Hawks
• 9 - Brooklyn Nets
• 10 - New York Knicks
• ----
• 11 - Chicago Bulls
• 12 - Detroit Pistons
• 13 - Orlando Magic
• 14 - Charlotte Hornets
• 15 - Washington Wizards

Here is a summary of the general strengths and weaknesses of Raptors management over the last 10 years, using the benefit of hindsight to note possible major successes and mistakes.

Foresight And Future Of Raptors

• Idea - Raptors management, scouts, and analysts have had outstanding foresight

Because the Raptors management, scouts, analysts, and coaches have done such an amazing job selecting and developing players, the Raptors should still have a good team this year and going forward, even after losing VanVleet in free agency. Overall, the Raptors have had an otherworldly level of decision making, player development, and culture creation in the last 10 years. The Raptors have nailed and appropriately developed more lower draft picks they have made than possibly every other team, not to mention undrafted players. That, along with many other reasons, is why they have the second most wins of any team in the NBA over the last 10 years, while enjoying an incredible run from 2013-2023. The Warriors are the team with the most wins, and it took the Raptors beating them in the Final to get the Raptors their championship.

As I see it, the Raptors and Ujiri have had amazing foresight and good decision making in some general areas from 2013-2023. These areas which have traditionally been great strengths include:

• Reset Trades - Trading away a poor contract or player to improve - Anthony, Bargnani, Gay
• Like Trades - Making trades for key players who they like - Ibaka, Leonard, Trent, Poeltl
• Rebuilding - Rebuilding and growing a lower ranked team from scratch with no stars
• Developing - Developing all players well beyond their expected ability and value
• Drafting - Drafting good players who they like - Wright, Siakam, Anunoby, Barnes
• Signing - Signing undrafted and free agent role players who they like - VanVleet, Boucher
• Patience - Being patient while players and the team go through ups and downs
• Chemistry - Creating a culture of team chemistry, working together, and having fun

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Here are my predictions for the 2022-2023 NBA standings, ranked by western and eastern conferences.

Western Conference

• 1 - Denver Nuggets
• 2 - Minnesota Timberwolves
• 3 - Los Angeles Clippers
• 4 - Golden State Warriors
• 5 - New Orleans Pelicans
• 6 - Phoenix Suns
• ----
• 7 - Los Angeles Lakers
• 8 - Memphis Grizzlies
• 9 - Dallas Mavericks
• 10 - Sacramento Kings
• ----
• 11 - Portland Trail Blazers
• 12 - Houston Rockets
• 13 - Utah Jazz
• 14 - Oklahoma City Thunder
• 15 - San Antonio Spurs

Eastern Conference

• 1 - Brooklyn Nets
• 2 - Philadelphia 76ers
• 3 - Toronto Raptors
• 4 - Boston Celtics
• 5 - Atlanta Hawks
• 6 - Milwaukee Bucks
• ----
• 7 - Cleveland Cavaliers
• 8 - Miami Heat
• 9 - Chicago Bulls
• 10 - Indiana Pacers
• ----
• 11 - Charlotte Hornets
• 12 - Detroit Pistons
• 13 - Orlando Magic
• 14 - Washington Wizards
• 15 - New York Knicks

Here are my ideas and strategy for the potential lineup, depth chart, and final roster spots for the Toronto Raptors going into the 2022 season, now that they are heading into training camp.

This takes some points from the main ideas I previously noted in "Raptors 2022 offseason lineup changes", which I wrote shortly after the end of the season. They did follow a few of my ideas from that article already, including resigning Boucher, drafting a versatile and athletic center, and signing Champagnie to an NBA deal for now at least. And there have been some rumblings about Achiuwa having an increased role or even possibly starting as I had also crazily suggested.

Notes

• Make Achiuwa a starter and move Trent to the bench
• Give Hernangomez the 14th spot as I always thought he would make team
• Give Jackson the 15th spot over Champagnie as he is athletic and versatile
• Move Champagnie down to a 2W spot and Dowtin to Raptors 905 contract
• Make Flynn the backup PG because of good shooting and assists/turnover
• Play Koloko a lot as a main bench player in the first half of the season

Extras

• I wonder if Achiuwa's role should eventually be a 3-and-D small forward
• I wonder if Banton's role should eventually be a playmaking shooting guard
• Play the bench players much more this year and develop the young guys
• They likely can't, but try to keep Trent on bench always so he can get 6th man
• If Trent starts, the bench in my second lineup is a HUGE switchable lineup
• Thaddeus Young could be a possible small ball center over Koloko sometimes

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Mirror, mirror on the wall, what is the fairest trade for all?

Raptors

• Kevin Durant
• Kyrie Irving

Nets

• Pascal Siakam
• Gary Trent Jr.
• Khem Birch
• Malachi Flynn
• Svi Mykhaliuk
• Armoni Brooks
• 1st 2023, 2025
• Swap 2024

Here is a potential trade I like for the Raptors to get a player in the draft lottery this year. The Kings, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, and Wizards all might be teams they could potentially trade with to get Daniels, or someone else if they prefer.

Raptors

• Dyson Daniels - 7th Pick
• Eric Bledsoe
• Greg Brown - Hopefully

Blazers

• Gary Trent Jr.
• Malachi Flynn
• Khem Birch - Hopefully

Here are some other players I like for the Raptors in this year's draft. All of these are players I have picked out that could be good players worth picking, with a focus on defensive potential as much as offense.

Trade Up

• Dyson Daniels
• Tari Eason
• Dalen Terry
• AJ Griffin - Maybe

#33 Draft Pick

• Dalen Terry - Unlikely available
• Khalifa Diop
• Justin Lewis
• Ron Harper Jr. - Maybe

Undrafted

• Khalifa Diop - C
• Justin Lewis - F
• Ron Harper Jr. - SG
• Scottie Pippen Jr. - PG
• Ibou Badji - C
• Julian Champagnie - SF
• Hyunjung Lee - SF

Here is how I see the Raptors lineup if they could somehow add both Dyson Daniels and Dalen Terry. Beyond their top 10 players, they could keep Thaddeus Young possibly, or look to other free agents and undrafted players.

Lineup

• Fred VanVleet - Dalano Banton - Eric Bledsoe
• Dyson Daniels - Dalen Terry - Ron Harper Jr.?
• OG Anunoby - Justin Champagnie - Thaddeus Young?
• Scottie Barnes - Chris Boucher - Greg Brown
• Pascal Siakam - Precious Achiuwa - Khalifa Diop?

2-Ways

• Scottie Pippen Jr? Khalifa Diop?
• Ibou Badji? Julian Champagnie?

These ideas do not take into account future FA or trade upgrades.

Notes

• Make Achiuwa the starting center
• Move Trent to the bench as 6th man
• Resign Boucher as backup big
• Sign Champagnie to NBA deal as 3-and-D bench player
• Let Thaddeus Young go - Better Shooter or Younger
• Move Birch to 3rd string 7K contract only - Better Shooter
• ----
• Run offense through Barnes and Banton handling ball much more
• Turn Fred and Malachi into shooters more often than ball handlers
• Make Fred, OG, Malachi, Gary do catch and shoot 3 PTs mainly
• Make Fred and Gary shoot only from 3 PT line, not 5 feet back
• Have Pascal, Prec, Justin, Chris focus on catch and shoot 3 PTs
• Give ball to Pascal or Gary if near end of shot clock to score
• ----
• Draft or add versatile athletic center with shooting potential
• Bench is Banton, Trent, Champagnie, Boucher, 2nd Rd Pick or FA
• Play the bench more and rest the starters more in season
• Playoff 7-8 might be Trent, Boucher, Banton/Champagnie
• If keep Young, make him small ball center, trade Birch if possible
• Bench would then be Banton, Trent, Champagnie, Boucher, Young

Lineup Option 1

• VanVleet - Banton
• Barnes - Trent
• Anunoby - Champagnie
• Siakam - Boucher
• Achiuwa - Draft Pick / Young / FA

Lineup Option 2

• VanVleet - Flynn
• Barnes - Banton
• Anunoby - Trent
• Siakam - Champagnie
• Achiuwa - Boucher

Here are my thoughts and some potential trade options to be involved in a trade for Simmons currently.

Trade Options

• Raptors - 76ers
• Ben Simmons - Fred VanVleet
• Matisse Thybulle - Goran Dragic
• $8.2M Trade Exception - 2022 1st Rd Pick

Lineup 1

• PG - Simmons - Flynn - Banton
• SG - Trent - Mykhailiuk - Wainwright
• SF - Anunoby - Thybulle - Watanabe
• PF - Barnes - Bonga - Dekker
• C - Siakam - Achiuwa - Birch

Lineup 2

• PG - Dragic - Flynn - Banton
• SG - Trent - Mykhailiuk - Bonga
• SF - Anunoby - Wainwright - Watanabe
• PF - Simmons - Barnes - Dekker
• C - Siakam - Achiuwa - Birch

Lineup (No Trades)

• PG - VanVleet - Flynn - Banton
• SG - Dragic* - Trent - Mykhailiuk
• SF - Anunoby - Wainwright - Bonga
• PF - Boucher* - Barnes - Dekker
• C - Siakam** (INJ) - Achiuwa - Birch** (START)

* Note - Maybe Dragic and Boucher could be starters, with all our young guys playing together on the bench, to also boost Dragic's trade value and because Boucher is better than Birch.

** Note - Maybe Siakam or Barnes could actually play center, with Birch starting the year there as a solid player, but really being our 3rd string center later in the year when Siakam returns.

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