Author: Anthony Haage
Not all NBA teams have the luxury of knowing that they are competing for a championship this season. In fact, most NBA teams could miss the playoffs if they fail to overcome their issues over the course of the year.
One team that has their work cut out for them is the Toronto Raptors. They have some great players on their roster, but decisions must be made. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, let’s assess their season so far and see if they should buy or sell for 2023-24.
Toronto’s 2023-24 Season So Far
Before deciding whether or not the Raptors should be buyers at the NBA deadline, we have to look at how their season is going so far. Unfortunately, they aren’t making anything easier on the front office.
They have a middling record and haven’t been able to get into a rhythm. If the Raptors can’t chain together some wins soon, they might have to trade away some of their key players.
Toronto currently has the 11th-best record in the Eastern Conference, so they wouldn’t even make the play-in tournament. That said, it’s still very early in the season, and they could jump up a few spots with a winning streak.
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Strengths and Weaknesses of the Raptors
Any team can look bad with a small sample size. If the Raptors do a lot of things well, we should see them win more games over the course of the season.
Offensively, Toronto ranks fourth in the NBA in assists and eighth in rebounds. A lot of their rebounding comes on the offensive end of the court, where they are tied for sixth. Outside of those areas, the Raptors aren’t impressive.
They rank in the bottom 20 in points, FG%, FT%, threes, 3PT%, true shooting, effective FG%, and offensive rating.
Their biggest strength is defense, ranking 9th (tied) in defensive rating and eighth in steals. Overall, their defense should keep them in games, but their offense needs to kick it up a notch.
Trades That Can Help
If the Raptors are going to be buyers, their main target should be high-end shooters. They are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA, and a sharpshooter could unlock their offense.
Since they aren’t a top contender right now, it’s unlikely they will make a massive trade at the deadline. Instead, they’ll look to grab cheaper players who can provide in their areas of need.
Buddy Hield and Dorian Finney-Smith could be good fits, and maybe Jerami Grant if they get a bit more aggressive.
Should the Raptors Buy or Sell?
It’s too early to make a real decision on the Raptors right now, but if I had to, I would say that they should sell. Even if they did make the playoffs, it’s very unlikely they would make it very far.
Pascal Siakam is their best player, but he is an unrestricted free agent after this year. Instead of holding onto him for what could be a lost season, Toronto can get multiple high-end picks or prospects and give themselves something to look forward to.
Scottie Barnes is the only player Toronto shouldn’t trade, while everyone else could be on the move.
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