WOLSTAT: Masai, lottery pick, Lowry's future ... What's next for the Raptors?
![This could be a huge off-season for the Toronto Raptors, with the fates of Masai Ujiri and Kyle Lowry uncertain,](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/torontosun/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/RAPTORSBLOG18-scaled.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=6oiS2R33MrLnee5sbC2k_w)
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It’s over. Finally.
When the bubble games ended last year, there was some relief, but that was mostly that the NBA had managed to complete its season.
This time, it’s a different feeling. More like good riddance!
You can definitely feel that from a Raptors point of view. For weeks, it was obvious most of the organization was totally over this debacle and was ready to reset, relax, then get back at it in preparation for a normal season.
We’re not interested in looking back again at everything that went wrong. It’s time to eye what’s next for the Raptors:
THE DRAFT
On June 22 we will find out where the Raptors will pick at the July 29 draft. By finishing with the NBA’s seventh-worst record, Toronto earned 31.96% odds of landing a pick in the top four; 19.72% of staying at seven; 34.11% of dropping to eight; 12.88% of falling to nine and 1.3% of plummeting to 10, with a 0.03% chance of tumbling to 11.
This draft is regarded as one of the strongest in memory at the top, with franchise changer Cade Cunningham expected to go No. 1, but with three players ranked in some order right behind him who would each challenge for the top spot in most drafts. So getting into that first group could be key for the future of the Raptors. Even if they stay in the 7-8 range, the Raptors should be able to fill a massive need by adding a talented wing with size who can get his own shot.
Toronto also has a pair of second-round selections (in the middle of the second round), so there will be a lot of workouts and interviews to be done, though the state of the world obviously impacts the logistics big-time.
THE FUTURE OF MASAI UJIRI
You probably know that the team’s president, the chief architect of the championship-winning squad, can leave once his latest contract extension ends after the playoffs.
It’s still this corner’s opinion that while Ujiri might not be sticking around long-term, he won’t bail on the franchise now after this gong show.
We would expect Ujiri to stay for at least another season to see the Raptors get back on their feet in Toronto with a new key piece on the way via the draft.
Maybe he signs for two years, with an option after the first to exit. The timing just doesn’t feel right for Ujiri to wave goodbye just yet.
THE FUTURE OF KYLE LOWRY
More likely Lowry, the greatest Raptor of them all, heads elsewhere to chase another championship.
It’s possible he could come back for a year or two, if he can’t get the deal he wants from the leading suspects, Miami (either via a sign-and-trade with Toronto or as an outright signing), Philadelphia (sign-and-trade), but this has felt like a finale for a while now.
If Lowry remains, great, the team should be right back in the mix for 3-5 in the conference. If not, Fred VanVleet will take over at point guard, with Malachi Flynn as his backup, and a starting shooting guard would come via the draft, or perhaps in the form of Gary Trent Jr., though Trent might be best suited as an excellent sixth man.
We’ll get into the cap specifics of free agency closer to the date (ie. Benefits of renouncing Lowry’s rights if he isn’t coming back and a sign-and-trade isn’t viable in order to sign or make an offer sheet on an outside free agent).
Teams can start negotiating with free agents on Aug. 2 and can officially sign them at 12:01 P.M. ET on Aug. 6.
THREE STARS VS. PACERS:
1 – O’Shae Brissett (Local product is one Raptors let get away).
2 – TJ McConnell (Maybe the best season nobody talked about).
3 – Khem Birch (A rare Raptors bright spot from this season).
FINAL RAPTORS THREE STAR TOTALS FOR THE SEASON
(I select three stars after each Raptors game. They can come from either team. Three points for a first star selection, two for a second and one for a third star win).
Pascal Siakam 56 points
Fred VanVleet 40
Kyle Lowry 40
Norman Powell 25
OG Anunoby 24
Chris Boucher 21
Gary Trent Jr. 11
Malachi Flynn 7
Khem Birch 5
Jalen Harris 4
Paul Watson/Stanley Johnson/Freddie Gillespie/Yuta Watanabe 3
DeAndre’ Bembry/Aron Baynes 1
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