News - Toronto Raptors - Dylan
Raptors Off-season
The off-season is upon us as the Toronto Raptors were a quick first round exit at the hands of the defending NSL Champion Milwaukee Bucks in a rather competitive sweep where only 15 points separated the two teams, losing 2 games to SGA buzzer beaters and a 3rd game we had control over until a last 30 second collapse. The Raptors fought gallantly seen as the first game of this playoff series was only the 6th game the group had played together as a fully healthy squad due to some trade deadline tinkering and some injuries that effected the end of the season.
At that trade deadline we made 2 big trades, 1 was saying goodbye to Josh Hart in return for Myles Turner one of the league's best 2-way Centers and the other was the beginning to a re-tool of a younger squad with a longer window with the inclusion of new franchise player Jalen Brunson for the outgoing Steph Curry.
Myles Turner was a huge inclusion for Toronto, now securing the starting job here hopefully for years to come. In the 21 games Myles put up averages of 14.4ppg, 10rpg, 1spg and 2.8bpg on 55%. Myles is an unrestricted free agent this off-season however we have signaled to Myles that we would love to have him back in Toronto and have already started contract negotiations with an open cheque book.
Jalen Brunson only played 8 games despite being here since the deadline and averaged 26.6ppg, 6apg on 46%. Jalen has been handed the keys to the franchise and has some say in roster moves going forward as to the players he would like to play with.
A big decision that currently looms overhead is whether Brunson and Toronto would like to continue with Kevin Durant who is coming off a top 5 NSL season with averages of 35.3ppg, 7rpg and a career high 2 blocks per game on 53% as Brunson's running mate or whether we would like to go in another direction. Some ideas have been floated as to whether to run a heliocentric offense, fill the starting unit with elite 2-way shooters or chasing a 2-way combo guard that could ease some ball handling pressure and also provide some much-needed perimeter defense. The most obvious option is to just run it back with KD, Brunson and Turner and use free agency to add more suitable pieces to that core. At this point we are still discussing with both Jalen and Kevin which path would be the best path forward given that they are both in their prime and have stated their intention is to win a title with Toronto.
Kevin Durant will still be Kevin Durant in 2k until he retires so the front office is leaning heavily toward holding him to play with Brunson and Turner, it really comes down to what a return for Kevin Durant would look like, whether anyone will offer enough for the 7ft demi-god or if there is more value in holding him.
Go Raps!
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