Within the ever-astounding narrative framework of the NBA, things rarely are certain.
Who could’ve predicted current Toronto Raptors big man Marc Gasol getting dealt to Memphis for his own brother in 2008, or the blockbuster that sent Carmelo Anthony to lowly New York in 2011, or Wilt Chamberlain getting shipped to Philadelphia for Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann, Lee Shaffer and cash in 1965?
And yet, despite or perhaps because of this inescapable uncertainty, we push forward with relentless curiosity, desperate for clues as to how the future may unfold. So, with the NBA trade deadline set to take place on Feb. 6, there’s no better time to try and anticipate what may come about, and why.
Here are five things pertaining to the Raptors going into the deadline, then, that are as close to certain as can be in a constantly changing world.
Deadline decisions will reveal Ujiri’s views on team’s ceiling
The Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri receives his 2019 NBA championship ring from Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, before playing the New Orleans Pelicans. (Frank Gunn/CP)
There is perhaps no better word to describe this season’s Raptors squad than fluid (other than perhaps injured and all of its accompanying synonyms), with the team having been forced to play a mishmash of lineups that have resulted in varying degrees of success against a variety of opponents. As such, it’s tough to know what this club is at its core when all the pieces are finally in place and, perhaps most importantly, what its ceiling is.
The Raptors’ most-utilized starting lineup this season has played together for a total of 226 minutes. By contrast, the two teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference have had their starters log 268 (Milwaukee Bucks) and 464 (Miami Heat) minutes, respectively. Out of the 30 teams’ most-played starting groups, Toronto’s ranks 21st in minutes.
That’s just not a lot of time together.
And yet, that same unit has accumulated a net rating of 9.4, a mark that ranks ninth amongst all lineups (including another one of their own, which contains the usual starters save for Norman Powell in place of Fred VanVleet and has a 16.1 net rating and ranks third) that have played at least 150 minutes.
It’s understandable, then, with that example in mind, that the Raptors front office may find the decision of becoming a buyer or seller or neither a difficult one.
Perhaps Masai Ujiri and Co. will find themselves agreeing with the notion that the Raptors are poised to make a deep post-season run if they’re able to swing a deadline move, and find themselves taking on the identity of a buyer.
At the same time, given how small the sample size for a healthy Raptors squad is, there’s merit in being skeptical of their ability (even at peak strength) to hang with the likes of the Bucks in a seven-game series.
And if there’s no reasonable path to going back-to-back, then there’s some sense in punting on win-now moves in favour of the opposite — selling a piece or two as a means of facilitating their future plans.
There’s virtue in vigilance, of course. Standing pat (with leeway provided for any tiny, innocuous transactions) often proves the most likely stance for a good team that’s all at once radiating potential, and mired in ambivalence. It shouldn’t come as a shock, then, if the franchise opts to ride out the current club and makes peace with any prospective playoff flameout, again with a mind to the future.
No one knows what the ceiling of this team is. Not the fans, not the media, not the Raptors. But that won’t stop the deadline from coming, so expect some level of clarity on how the organization views the roster soon, despite the murky fog that layers the entire situation.
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry reacts in the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Yes, Lowry could be traded. It’s not out of the realm of possibility by any stretch. We have seen Ujiri make seismic deals before that have shaken the franchise to its very core. But the return in any sort of trade structured around Lowry would have to be gargantuan to be worth the Raptors’ while.
From a sentimental perspective, this remains the championship hangover season. Kawhi Leonard is gone, and Lowry remains as the frisky, omnipresent soul of the golden era of Raptors basketball. There would hardly be any deal that Toronto could make this season, in the midst of a title afterglow, that would not be a significant blow to the fan base. And with the DeMar DeRozan debacle having happened so recently, the notion of doing right by the face of the franchise (even if it’s generally not brilliant for business) may be of higher priority than in the past.
Looking at things through a cold, calculating lens does little to change the likelihood of a trade. Lowry’s contract ($33 million) is a difficult one to move due to the fact that it’s simply a large number and makes salary-matching difficult, and the teams that would likely covet him the most would be contenders who would have to give up one or many of their own core pieces in order to obtain Lowry since it would be impossible to add him otherwise, something that both the Raptors and any contending team would probably balk at.
There’s value in keeping Lowry, too, of course. The original plan for the immediate season was to spend it on internal growth and development for the likes of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam while remaining competitive and keeping an eye on the books for a hopeful free agency splash down the road. Removing Lowry from that equation instantly leaves the team far less competitive (especially for a squad already lacking creators and guard depth), and from a morale standpoint, removes its leading voice.
This isn’t do or die time for the Raptors’ relationship with Lowry who, at 33, is having a wonderful season. There’s value in known quantities. Teams understand what they’d be getting in Lowry and, should they choose to, Toronto could entertain moving him over the summer or even into next season (the last year of his current deal) as opposed to rushing a deal at the deadline.
The Raptors compromising 2021 cap space is improbable
Toronto Raptors guard Powell (24) drives to the net with Washington Wizards guard Gary Payton II (20) trailing during first half of their NBA basketball game. (Cole Burston/CP)
For the Raptors, whose long-term plan has appeared to be chasing franchise-altering free agents in the summer of 2021, making any move that jeopardizes their cap flexibility at that time seems highly unlikely.
The result of not wanting to breach this plan (a plan, by the way, that many, many teams are employing), one that has its origins pre-Leonard and that has been carried over to post-Leonard life, is obvious: No swinging for the fences. That means no dealing for the big names currently on the trading block, such as Kevin Love, D’Angelo Russell who have multi-year contracts that take up a massive chunk of cap space.
It also probably means no long-term middling deals, either, depending on the range. Toronto has made it clear that it will do all it possibly can to keep its cap sheets clean for that summer and make sacrifices if necessary (to a reasonable extent) along the way.
As a franchise that completely altered its culture through the likes of Ujiri, DeRozan, Lowry, and former head coach Dwane Casey, and then capitalized on that success by ultimately winning a title, the Raptors evidently feel comfortable operating as a team that has as good a shot as any other at landing a free agent superstar, something that would have seemed unfathomable as recently as 10 years ago.
And so every move they make, every deal they sniff around, every hesitant or self-assured moment, will certainly be centred around betting on themselves, and the flexibility they need to make that happen.
The free agent paydays are fast approaching
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) celebrates his three point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during NBA overtime action. (Frank Gunn/CP)
In the NBA, life flows steadily to the laborious ticking of a money-coloured metronome, a tiny reminder that there is always something next, something onerous, something inevitable.
That ticking has grown louder for the Raptors as they march towards this off-season, with only nine players locked into deals for the 2020–21 season and guys such as VanVleet, Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Chris Boucher, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson coming off the books, whether in regular free agent fashion or restricted.
It’s partially because of all these soon-to-be free agents that the Raptors will likely remain cautious around the deadline. Re-signing any of them to a multi-year deal will factor into Toronto’s cap space for the summer of 2021. That makes things tricky for guys like Gasol and Ibaka, whose markets are debatable and who the Raptors might ask to take one-year deals should they return for next season, something they may not be interested in.
Of course, the main priority here is VanVleet, who is not extension eligible this season and will hit free agency no matter what. The Raptors know that they will not only have to pay VanVleet more to bring him back (whatever his market is precisely at the moment, it’s most assuredly quite high), but also that his deal will join Siakam’s in extending through the 2021 off-season.
This is an argument for the Raptors as sellers — get off of any potentially dangerous or unhelpful deals now, gather inexpensive assets for the future and prepare to roll the dice when the moment comes.
And so we arrive at Powell. Toronto has made its peace with Siakam, perfectly content with his piece of the cap sheet pie, but that may not be so true for Powell. The latter will have the ability to opt into a roughly $11 million player option for 2021–22, which would take up a fair chunk of space that could affect the Raptors’ plans, depending on VanVleet’s eventual deal and a cornucopia of other things. Toronto may, therefore, be interested in moving him early specifically to get out of potentially having to pay that money, and might also feel that this is the best time to do so with how tremendous Powell’s performance on the floor has been this season.
That said, that same tremendous play evidently makes him useful for a competitive team looking to make some sort of run, and Powell doesn’t have to be traded at the deadline. Like Lowry, he could instead be dealt in the off-season or into 2020–21.
No matter what the Raptors do, free agency is coming, and will certainly prove to be a major factor in all deadline-related decisions.
For the Raptors, the deadline market is limited
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari (8) shoots over Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson during the second half of an NBA basketball game. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
If the Raptors strive for maintaining long-term cap flexibility while also being mindful of their pending free agents, what targets does that leave them with at the deadline?
Pragmatic options would largely be restricted to players on expiring deals (such as Danilo Gallinari) that the team would feel confident in their ability to re-sign to a reasonable number come the summer, or players who are solely on contract for next season already (such as J.J. Redick).
None of these sorts of players will be the type to raise a team’s ceiling so much as to have a serious singular impact towards title contention. Therefore the Raptors may not feel the need to seek any of them out at all considering the cost and, instead, choose to roll the dice with their own expiring deals.
This doesn’t mean the Raptors won’t be active in trade talks, however, and Ujiri, though a clever surveyor of any situation he might be willing to leap into, has never been afraid of making a deal.
But unless something radical were to happen, it would certainly seem the Raptors might be spending this deadline below the radar.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
