Toronto Raptors players have already started preparing for the next NBA season.
Scottie Barnes and his friend Jonathan Mogbo, who was picked 31st overall in June’s NBA Draft, have been training in Spain. Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl have been working out in Miami.
Second-year player Gradey Dick has been hitting the gym hard and looks much bigger than he did last year. He’s also been helping new prospects get settled in as they prepare for training camp next month.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic will share how he spent his summer at media day. Last summer was hectic for him due to his new job, so it will be interesting to hear how a normal off-season has helped him prepare.
It’s still unclear what Rajakovic’s team will look like.
Generally, people don’t expect the Raptors to make the playoffs in their 30th season. Only Washington and Brooklyn seem to be in worse shape in the East, and the Raptors are not far ahead of teams like Charlotte and Detroit, especially if injuries pile up like last season.
The best the Raptors might achieve is a spot in the play-in tournament. Even if they stay healthy, they have a tough schedule until mid-December, with only three of the first 25 games against teams that missed the playoffs last year.
Expect a lot of events and distractions for the 30th anniversary to divert attention from the games. The Raptors have talent, but the league is very competitive, and they don’t have enough top-tier players yet.
This tough schedule and low expectations might actually benefit the team in the long run.
Celebrate the past (Vince Carter will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in mid-October and will be honored throughout the year, along with other former stars) and aim for a high draft pick in what is expected to be a strong draft class.
Then, come back next year with a more experienced core and hopefully another key player added to the team.