Are The Toronto Raptors Nearing The End Of An Era?

No one is walking through the door to help the Toronto Raptors. While several Eastern Conference rivals bolstered their rosters in preparation for the playoff sprint ahead, the Raptors opted to pursue meaningful internal changes.

The organization is clearly not ready to let go of this group – at least not yet. Whether that mindset proves fruitful remains to be seen. But this iteration of the Raptors seemingly has one final chance to prove they’re worth investing in and it begins with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet. 

Here are three storylines ahead of the matchup. 

Poeltl Must Pay it Forward

The unofficial mid-season break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Raptors as they desperately attempt to keep their grasp on a playoff spot. 

The two players that admirably stepped up while the team dealt with injuries earlier in the year, Sandro Mamakelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles, are ironically listed as questionable. Mamukelashvili has exceeded all expectations and remains on track as one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history. Meanwhile, Murray-Boyles is still dealing with a thumb issue. The rookie is averaging 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks. 

Before the All-Star festivities, Jakob Poeltl finally returned after missing 24 consecutive games. While on a minutes restriction, Poeltl finished with nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes during a 113-95 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 11. 

With only 26 games left in the Raptors’ schedule, Poeltl will finish the season playing fewer than 57 games for the fourth straight year. The Raptors’ playoff hopes and season highly depend on Poeltl’s back holding up. Even if he’s not at full strength, Poeltl’s availability considerably improves Toronto’s chances in the East. 

The Bulls are confused

Even when the Bulls started the season with five consecutive victories, no one outside of Chicago batted an eye. At 6-1, the Bulls held the top spot in the Eastern Conference on Nov. 1. With the NBA returning from its All-Star Weekend, the Bulls are 24-31 and currently hold the 11th seed. 

The Bulls have etched an awkward page in history books as a frequent participant in the league’s play-in tournament. Chicago has appeared in the competition in each of the last three years. They’ve accumulated a 2-3 record during this span. 

After years of mediocrity, the Bulls’ front office decided to move in a new direction. But in what is the feather in the cap for those who believe Bulls fans are still paying for how they ended their golden era, the team still feels directionless despite roster changes.

Out goes Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Ousmane Dieng and Mike Conley in separate transactions. In return, Chicago acquired Anfernee Simons, Colin Sexton, Jaden Ivey, Rob Dillingham, Nick Richards and Guerschon Yabusele. 

When Josh Giddey and Tre Jones return from their respective hamstring injuries, the Bulls’ coaching staff will have to solve the funky logjam of guards they have. 

Even with the Bulls in disarray, the Raptors will still have their hands full against a scrappy Bulls team that ranks 11th in rebounding. If Poeltl and Murray-Boyles miss the game, it’ll take a team effort to contain Richards and Yabusele, both of whom are expected to be on “prove-it” missions for the rest of the season. Centre Jalen Smith, who has been dealing with a calf stain, has also been fantastic in limited minutes.

This feels familiar

It feels like the Raptors have been here before. There’s an eerie tension in the air that suggests a transition is waiting around the corner, ready to ambush the fans into the next era of Raptors basketball. 

The optimistic basketball fan in Toronto will remind their peers that something fun typically follows. From Mighty Mouse and Vinsanity to Chris Bosh. From DeMar DeRozan’s ‘Young Gunz’ era to We the North. Then there’s the 2019 championship run to this current version of the team.

The latter is still difficult to judge because it’s defined by Scottie Barnes, who has never benefitted from proper roster construction. Since moving on from the parts that helped bring the city’s first NBA title, the Raptors have leaned on the likes of Immanuel Quickley, Canadian RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter as key acquisitions. What makes them important adds were the assets, cap room and draft capital used. 

While the Raptors never miss out on an opportunity to remind fans and media they’re in the middle of a rebuild, it’s difficult to completely buy in, considering their lone move at the trade deadline was partly done to get under the tax line. 

Skipping the play-in tournament should be the expectation because it’s time to see what this group can do in the playoffs.