2014-15 Finish: 42-40

 

Season Highlight

Raptors fell out of postseason race early, but they got really hot late in the season. They finished the season with a 5 game winning streak and won 8 of their last 9 games. This gives GM juvenile hope for 2015/16 campaign that health, internal improvement and some new faces will add a few more wins need to make the jump in post season.

 

Season Lowlight

Raptors failed to qualify for the postseason. That happened for the first time since 2007/08. Only Sixers, Knicks and Bucks had a longer streak in the East and now it's over. Raptors had a bad start to the season, the schedule was unkind to them but they were also losing gimmies versus average lottery teams like Nets, Blazers or Wizards. In the East, each such loss is important in the playoff race.

 

Best Trade

Taj Gibson to Chicago for pick nr 7. Raptors sent the pick to Clippers for something before the draft. Still 7th pick for a solid though not spectacular aging power forward is a really good  haul. Stanimal was selected there, a player any team could use going forward. It's a bit unclear what Raptors got out of that deal in the end.

 

Worst Trade

Does KD trade count or is it too old? That trade sent the franchise from contending to not making the playoffs. I didn’t particularly like Gasol trade either, but the general consensus was different.

 

Other Notable Trades

Raptors were very active on the trade front, most of the team changed over the year, some guys didn't stay very long.

Deron Williams, Arron Afflalo for Varejao, Batum, Reggie Jackson. Young guys for old guys. Afflalo and Deron looked on the downside of their NBA career, but they performed really well in NLL and both found a new home in nBA in last offseason. Both guys will stay one more season in NLL, but will cost a lot, no discounts here.

Marc Gasol for KG and Enes Kanter. Didn't like that deal then, don't like it now. Gasol had a fine year, solid offense, rebounding, great defense. Might not quite produce his full value in NLL. Kanter will be re-signed, but is now one of the more expensive bigs. KG was traded for Dirk. In theory that frontcourt should be an offensive juggernaut, but might lack athleticism.

Dirk for KG. Offense for defense. Both are shells of their former glory, but still useful players.

Thabo for Humphries. Solid deal, take from frontcourt, where they're deep and add an important backcourt player.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and cash for Ariza. I think Ariza was a s&t. Bogdan fell down in draft and might never come over. Could get more immediate help for Trevor.

Isaiah Thomas for Reggie Jackson. IT is a solid player, great cotract. Reggie really played great for Raptors, but was later traded for Deron and got a giant contract.

 

Best Free Agent Signing

Raptors re-signed their own free agents Thomas, Ariza and Humphries, all good, though expected moves. Then they signed a bunch more, 7 guys by a count (that transaction page is filled with players, looks like half the league played over the border).

Marvin Williams had the biggest impact. He played in 74 games for the Raptors, started 29 and played well in those minutes. He was traded after the season to Indiana for... again hard to say, but Daniel Diez was included.

 

Worst Free Agent Signing

Raptors signed Zoran Dragic, presumably to lure in his older brother. It didn't work out, Zoran was later used as a filler in a trade with Pacers where he was reunited with Goran, again to help persuade him to stay. Goran is a free agent this season, but Zoran decided the pastures look greener in Russia.

 

The Star - Deron Williams

They were traded one for the other, the youngster for the old guy. Reggie played spectacular for the Raptors, took the team on his back and lead them to a winning record. Raptors were 15-6 with Deron at the front. Old man can still play. NLL Deron is an interesting player who'd living through his second prime in NLL since his move into the world of NBA 2k14 engine. His stats fell a bit since moving to Canada, but he still performed marvelously, 27 points, 6 assist, almost 2 steals, couldn't connect from the deep, but he was almost in the MVP discussion.

Surprise

Noone played 82 games for the Raptors.

Deron Williams was their top scorer with career high 27 ppg.

Anderson Varejao only lasted 16 games this time around... ok, not really a surprise.

Ronnie Price was the best team player, Raptors outscored opponents by 6  points when he was on the floor. Only lasted 4 games though.

Marc Gasol, stellar defender, solid offensive player (17 and 10), struggled from the floor. He only lasted 16 games before he was traded for Kanter (10 & 9, no D) and Dirk (10 & 7, no D).

Dirk doesn't have much game left, terrible offense (10 ppg, 43% from the field), terrible defense. Can still shoot from distance (43%), but doesn't really like it (less than a make per game).

 

The Goat

Anderson Varejao played 16 games for the Raptors, did his usual things, 6 points, 10 rebounds, solid efficiency, lured fans into thinking this will be his ear and left soon after, this time it wasn't an injury but deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. How can a young, active player get that? Any accusations of hormone therapy abused were promptly denied.

 

Draft Report Card

15th pick, Frank Kaminsky, 35th pick, Willy Hernangomez, 55th pick, Daniel Diez. Raptors had a bunch of different picks,

Kaminsky could be a steal this late into the draft, but Juvenile doesn't really like the pick and there are reports he never really found a home in Canada. Too bad, as he could develop well under Dirk’s tutorlage and he’d fit nice with Dieng as the frontcourt of the future.

Willy is a nice stash pick, a giant that could use a bit more mobility and finesse.

Diez, no idea.

 

 Upcoming Free Agents

 

 

Earl Barron, Cory Jefferson, Bryce Cotton, Luigi Datome. A colorful bunch of guys even basketball gurus like me (might be pronounced nerds) don't know. If anyone decides to stay and there's an open roster spot, they might be welcomed back. Or not. Juvi doesn't really care.

 

Looking to the Future

The East is strong, teams will have to win whenever possible, can't lose any games. All the playoff teams look to return, Orlando went all in this offseason, Wizards want to make a jump, Chicago is ready, again, Charlotte was close last season, even Brooklyn is flirting with wins.

Raptors are taking a different route, trying to out wise the opponents if they can't outrun them. There are more guys over 30 on that starting lineup then there were thirty-something years old players in Bucks franchise history, which, of course, doesn't tell much.

Health might be an issue. Dirk is missing games here and there, Deron and Afflalo are both over thirty, Thabo is returning after a NYPD beat down. Defense might be another issue, though they're ok on the wings with Thabo and Arron. Dieng is another important cog here, maybe it's time to move Dirk to the bench and start youngsters Dieng and Kanter. Bench could be another issue, right now before free agency, they have MCW, Dieng and some journeymen. Any injury here could be devastating.

All in all, Raptors finished last season on a high note, will bring in some new guys, are built to run (with Deron, Dirk and Ens it’s more walk slowly) and gun from all sides and should be a fun team to watch. They missed the postseason last year, but will put a fight this season. The start is very important, they just can’t afford to fall behind  immediately.

 

Projection

43 – 39 the lower teams East are getting stronger and wins won’t be easy, but this might be enough for the postseason.