Raptors, working the rapture

Toronto is apparently working the scenes for a Damian Lillard trade. At the end of an offseason in which something ought to give, why now?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Nocturne: Blue and Gold — Old Battersea Bridge; James McNeill Whistler; 1872-5

Marc Stein

reporting on the Toronto Raptors’ apparently sincere interest in trading for Damian Lillard:

The Toronto Raptors have convinced numerous teams around the league that their interest in trading for Lillard is genuine.

The uncertainty at this point stems more from gauging Toronto's true willingness to push all the way forward with its Lillard pursuit when it's believed that the All-Star guard, behind the scenes, remains so resistant to the idea of becoming a Raptor.

You may remember that earlier this summer, there was buzz around Pascal Siakam potentially being on the trade market after some weird team-related snubs and, obviously, Toronto’s deeply unsatisfying past four seasons.

Yes, it’s been four full seasons since the Raptors stunningly won the 2019 NBA championship. In 2019-20, the title defense without Kawhi Leonard went well … until the bubble, where the No. 2 seed Raptors were knocked out in the second round by the upstart Celtics, who have since eclipsed Toronto as a perennial contender in the conference. That season Siakam was an All-Star and made second team All-NBA. But his jumper didn’t make the trip to Orlando, and he performed especially poorly on offense in the Boston series.

The next season, Toronto had to play their home games in Tampa due to COVID-19 border restrictions. Nothing good can come from playing basketball in Tampa. The Raptors went 27-45. In a 72-game season, only two players — Stanley Johnson and Chris Boucher — played in at least 60 games. Siakam did not make All-Anything. Neither did co-star Fred VanVleet. The team did get notable South Floridian Scottie Barnes out of their journey to the Sunshine State. (Bring back the territorial draft?)

Returning to Canada without franchise stalwart Kyle Lowry, the Raptors rebounded in 2021-22 to the effect of a 48-win campaign and the No. 5 seed. VanVleet was named an All-Star for the first time ever, Siakam made All-NBA again. And then they were blasted out in the first round by a cursed Sixers squad, destroyed by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Siakam performed better this time around, but VanVleet was locked up (metaphorically) and Barnes looked like a rookie, as one does.

It looked like it could be a moment for change. There were rumo(u)rs to that effect. And yet.