Wow, do things ever change quickly in the playoffs.  The league-best Thunder were cruising to a G...

<p>Wow, do things ever change quickly in the playoffs.</p><p>The league-best Thunder were cruising to a Game 1 win over the Nuggets on Monday night, leading by 11 points with a little more than four minutes remaining. A victory would've moved Oklahoma City to 5-0 in the postseason. But rather than celebrating what would have been their 73rd win of the campaign, the Thunder are reeling from a stunning collapse and preparing for what's suddenly become a must-win Game 2.</p><p>The biggest story of Denver's 121-119 victory was Nikola Jokic, who feasted on a Thunder team (and specifically Chet Holmgren) unequipped to guard him. But after helplessly watching Jokic pile up 42 points and 22 rebounds, the Thunder had a chance to ice the game while Jokic watched helplessly from the bench. Instead, a mathematically sound strategy led to OKC's demise.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>It's generally accepted that the best course of action is to foul when leading by three with the shot clock turned off, as the opposing team is less likely to win a free-throw shooting contest by three-plus points than it is to make a 3-pointer. If the team in front simply makes its free throws and avoids turnovers, the game is over. The Thunder subscribe to this school of thought, so it was no surprise to see Alex Caruso intentionally foul Jokic with OKC up 117-114 and 13 seconds remaining.</p><p>Jokic made both free throws, but the Nuggets kept him on the bench following a subsequent Thunder timeout, as the three-time MVP had five fouls and Denver was going to be looking to intentionally foul. However, a well-executed play out of the timeout - and a defensive breakdown by the Nuggets - allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score a basket before Denver could foul. That dunk left OKC up 119-116 with 11 seconds to play, Jokic on the bench, and the Nuggets out of timeouts. In other words, had the Thunder just defended naturally and let the Nuggets play the next possession out, it's possible Oklahoma City could've escaped with the win while Jokic had to watch Denver's final possession from the sidelines.</p><p>Unwilling to deviate from their original plan, the Thunder still elected to foul immediately rather than risk a Nuggets 3-point attempt. Aaron Gordon's free throws cut the lead to one, and the stoppage allowed Jokic to re-enter the contest. After a couple of missed free throws from Holmgren, Russell Westbrook rushed the ball up the court and found Gordon for the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds on the clock.</p><p>To be fair, Jokic didn't have a hand in the game-winning possession, but consider the result karmic justice for playing with fire.</p><p>It's possible the Nuggets might have cashed a triple on the play in question if the Thunder had let them play it out, but I'd rather trust my league-best defense to get a stop than take my chances with the best player on the planet back on the floor. Remember, too, that Joker-less Denver would've had to take it the length of the floor after Gilgeous-Alexander's dunk.</p><p>Jokic's brilliance demands a real-time recalibration of best practices, like Barry Bonds <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr7vPDNG3q0">drawing</a> an intentional walk with the bases loaded. The Thunder refused to budge. Jokic didn't make them pay, but they still got what they deserved. Now let's see how the championship favorites - and the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3272746" href="https://thescore.com/news/3272746">youngest</a> team in the playoffs - punch back.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31206910/related

Thunder played with fire and got burned in Game 1 loss to Nuggets

Every year, 29 teams fall short of the ultimate goal, and every year, those 29 teams ask themselv...

<p>Every year, 29 teams fall short of the ultimate goal, and every year, those 29 teams ask themselves how they can take the next step.</p><p>We've already looked at how the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3279346" href="https://thescore.com/news/3279346">Eastern Conference's four eliminated teams</a> may go about answering that question. Here's what's on tap for the first-round outs from the West.</p><h3>Houston Rockets </h3><p>The Rockets should feel as good as possible for a 2-seed that was bounced in the first round. They were a 22-win tire fire just two years ago. This season, they won 52 games in a loaded Western Conference, had the league's fourth-ranked defense, and pushed a pedigreed Warriors team led by three future Hall of Famers to a Game 7. While veterans Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Steven Adams had huge hands in Houston's success, the team was also powered by a talented youth brigade for whom the future looks very bright.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Big man Alperen Sengun was an All-Star at 22 and had a strong playoff showing despite struggling with his touch all year. Sophomore Amen Thompson, the most explosive athlete in the league outside of his twin brother Ausar, broke out as a two-way stud with legitimate superstar potential. Jabari Smith Jr., a versatile third-year forward who's even younger than Thompson, continued to establish himself as an ideal gap-filling role player. Tari Eason kept growing into one of the best defensive playmakers in the league. </p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/cropped_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784175/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212190173.jpg?ts=1746471280 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Logan Riely / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>That said, the Rockets' loss to Golden State - and their season as a whole - provided some obvious lessons they'll carry into a fascinating offseason. Above all, the offense needs to improve dramatically. They finished bottom 10 in shooting percentage from every quadrant on the floor: 21st from 3-point range, 23rd from long mid-range, 26th from floater range, and 22nd at the rim. And though their 22nd-ranked half-court offense was buoyed by the league's best offensive rebound rate and a top-10 transition attack, that wasn't enough to overcome a 92.4 offensive rating on first-shot possessions against a set Warriors defense.</p><p>The front office's big decision comes down to whether it believes the necessary improvements can come from within or whether the team has to look externally. Houston's biggest need is upgrading its off-the-dribble shot creation, and as good as Sengun and Thompson are - and can eventually become - the internal options seem unlikely to address that deficiency.</p><p>Jalen Green's place in the team's future feels particularly hazy as he enters the first year of a three-year extension. While he's innately talented and has made strides in the last couple years, his shot selection and overall decision-making remain far too erratic for him to be relied upon by a contending team. The Rockets wouldn't be wrong to exercise patience with the 23-year-old, but they'd also be justified in cutting bait if there's a market for his services.</p><p>This team looks ripe for a consolidation trade: Houston's got more intriguing young players than its rotation can currently accommodate (looking at you, Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore) and a bundle of surplus draft picks including three unprotected first-rounders from the beleaguered Suns and one from the even more beleaguered Mavericks. The possibility of trading those picks back to Phoenix makes the Rockets a sensible landing spot for Kevin Durant or (in a more ideal scenario) Devin Booker. Giannis Antetokounmpo could also be available this summer, and while he wouldn't fix their shooting woes, he'd still launch them into a different stratum of contention because he's Giannis Antetokounmpo.</p><p>The front office also has to decide whether to pick up VanVleet's $45-million team option after a regular season in which he shot under 38% from the field followed by a playoff series in which he was Houston's most important offensive player. The Rockets are already dangerously light on ball-handling and pull-up shooting, and they wouldn't be able to replace VanVleet's value via this barren free-agent class. But opening up cap space by renouncing him could allow them to absorb a star in a trade without having to send back matching salary. They could also just try to re-sign VanVleet to a longer-term deal with a lower average annual value.</p><p>Adams, who was instrumental in pushing the Warriors to seven and had the best individual net rating (plus-14.1) in the series, is a free agent as well. Smith and Eason are eligible for extensions. That's a lot of consequential decisions to make in a short amount of time, and while there aren't many bad choices for a team in Houston's position, this feels like a potential fork-in-the-road summer that could lead the team in any number of directions. - <em>Joe Wolfond </em></p><h3>Los Angeles Lakers </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/cropped_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780153/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208313373.jpg?ts=1746471314 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Murphy / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Although it can be hard to see the forest for the trees in the immediate, emotional aftermath of a disappointing postseason elimination, the Lakers are in great shape. Turning Anthony Davis into Luka Doncic brought immediate promise, but this team was always going to be incomplete in the short term, especially when Los Angeles' deadline-day deal for fragile Hornets center Mark Williams fell through.</p><p>The real work to build a genuine contender around Doncic and LeBron James begins now. Assuming James is back (the 40-year-old has a $52.6-million player option for next season), there are a couple ways the Lakers can go about this. First, they could run it back with a trio of Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves while filling their glaring hole at center and adding some quality depth. That's the more conservative path. Some might argue the Lakers should be more aggressive to maximize what could be James' last year or two, but they've also got a Doncic-led future to plan for. Plus, a team featuring Doncic, James, and Reaves with a more balanced supporting cast would enter next season as a fringe contender at worst.</p><p>The more aggressive option would be to dangle Reaves, salary filler, and draft picks on the trade market. In addition to swap rights in 2026, 2028, and 2030, the Lakers still have their 2031 first-rounder and will get access to their 2032 first-rounder once this year's draft is complete. That might not be enough to land another superstar, but the Lakers don't need one. It surely is enough to land an impact player - perhaps one who's a better fit between Doncic and James than Reaves.<strong> </strong>- <em>Joseph Casciaro </em></p><h3>LA Clippers</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/cropped_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783634/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212092486.jpg?ts=1746471526 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Juan Ocampo / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For the first time since Kawhi Leonard tore his ACL partway through the second round in 2021, things seemed to be lined up for the Clippers to make noise in the postseason. Leonard was healthy and operating near the peak of his powers, James Harden still had gas in the tank, and the surrounding roster was deep and versatile. They finished the regular season as the hottest team in the league, and their first-round opponent was a comparatively thin outfit that had fired its head coach two weeks earlier. </p><p>There's a reason the Clippers were one of the teams <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3256715" href="https://thescore.com/news/3256715">under the most pressure</a> entering the playoffs. Because if not now, when? That's the question the Clippers and their fans have to ask themselves after a seven-game loss to the Denver Nuggets marked another early exit for a team that's won just three series since signing Leonard six years ago. For this, they stripped themselves of every shred of prospect capital and relinquished control of all their own first-round picks between now and 2030. That's going to make executing any kind of pivot very challenging. And it takes a measure of blind faith to believe this same team can come back and produce a better result next year.</p><p>Leonard will turn 34 this summer, and it's hard to imagine he has many kicks at the can left given his injury history. Harden will turn 36 with the ability to become a free agent by declining a $36-million player option. Another rough Game 7 notwithstanding, he produced an awesome season in which he played all but three games and kept the team's offense afloat with Leonard on the shelf for three months. Considering L.A. can ill afford to let another star walk for nothing, odds are he'll be able to negotiate another one-plus-one or two-plus-one type of deal. But at his age, can we expect even one more season like the one he just had?</p><p>It's a good thing Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell are locked up on team-friendly deals (it'll be interesting to see whether Powell's willing to extend his), because any upward mobility is contingent on those guys continuing to build on their late-career breakthroughs. Even then, L.A. will probably need youngish guys like Amir Coffey (if he re-signs), Jordan Miller, and Kobe Brown to make strides. And startlingly important 36-year-old Nic Batum to return for one last hurrah. But none of that even matters unless Leonard can stay healthy and Harden can sustain an All-Star level.</p><p>I've been <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2934216" href="https://thescore.com/news/2934216">wrong about the Clippers</a> before, and this is a creative front office, but it really does feel like they've run out of cards to play. Let's see if they have one more up their sleeve. - <em>Wolfond</em></p><h3>Memphis Grizzlies </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/cropped_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760330/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188847815.jpg?ts=1746471407 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Murphy / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Grizzlies are one of the toughest teams to get a read on.</p><p>On one hand, Memphis is still one of the league's youngest teams, already has some valuable postseason experience, and boasts an enviable trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., the latter of whom is extension eligible this summer (Morant and Bane are under contract through 2028 and 2029, respectively). The Grizzlies also have an intriguing mix of youngsters that includes Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr., restricted free agent Santi Aldama, Vince Williams Jr., and GG Jackson. It's easy to argue that teams in this position should either ride the wave or make a consolidation trade to boost their immediate title hopes.</p><p>On the other hand, the Grizzlies feel more like a fading contender than a young team on the rise. Morant has gone from future face of the league to one of the league's most unreliable stars. A reported disconnect over offensive philosophies led general manager Zach Kleiman to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins mere weeks before the playoffs despite Memphis sitting fifth in the tough Western Conference. Is it possible new coach Tuomas Iisalo and some better injury luck create a resurgence that propels the Grizzlies back up the West hierarchy? Sure, but it feels like something has to give.</p><p>Don't be surprised if the Grizzlies shop Morant - or any member of the team's Big Three - more heavily than they shop the youngsters and picks. - <em>Casciaro </em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31201424/related

What's next: Where the West's 1st-round outs go from here

Luka Doncic's place among the modern game's top superstars is undeniable. Only 26 years old and s...

<p>Luka Doncic's place among the modern game's top superstars is undeniable. Only 26 years old and seven years into his career, Doncic's five All-NBA first-team selections match the career output of legends Charles Barkley and Julius Erving, while he's already one-upped Hall of Famers like Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki.</p><p>This year, Doncic became the first international player to top the NBA in jersey sales. He also owns the highest career scoring average (28.6 points per game) among active players, and his playoff average (30.9 PPG) ranks second all time behind only Michael Jordan.</p><p>But there's no denying Doncic is coming off the most turbulent season of his decorated career. The newly minted Los Angeles Lakers star has far more doubters today than he did after leading the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals a year ago. With that, let's dig into what's real and what's not when it comes to the criticisms levied Doncic's way.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Defensive concerns are real</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/cropped_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783703/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209460134.jpg?ts=1746211070 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Sam Hodde / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Two things can be true: Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made calamitous errors - not only did he trade Doncic, but he also negotiated with just one team to turn Doncic into an older, lesser star - and Harrison's concerns about Doncic's defense are valid.</p><p>Harrison has dug his hole in Dallas deeper with some out-of-touch <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3272129" href="https://thescore.com/news/3272129">comments</a> since making the franchise-crippling trade. But when the point of contention is Doncic's defense, Harrison's essentially <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartbreaking:_The_Worst_Person_You_Know_Just_Made_A_Great_Point">this classic meme</a>.</p><p>Doncic is a massive defensive liability more often than not, with his uninspiring mobility and effort on that end negating any advantages his sheer strength would otherwise provide in one-on-one situations. It says something that despite being hobbled by a bad back in the second half of L.A.'s Game 5 loss to Minnesota, Doncic's defensive movement looked barely worse than it had over the first four and a half contests.</p><p>Few stars are perfect, even among the MVP tier. While Doncic's generational offensive talent gives his team a head start in chasing a championship, his defensive shortcomings make it clear that success isn't as simple as plugging him in and figuring out the rest later. Those limitations must be considered when building a supporting cast around him. The lack of a competent center behind Doncic didn't help matters in L.A. However, barring offseason catastrophe, that won't be the case <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3278881" href="https://thescore.com/news/3278881">next year</a>.</p><p>With better defensive infrastructure around him, I'd bet a motivated and refreshed Doncic will be closer to average defensively next season (as he was during Dallas' 2024 Finals run). Given how he tilts the floor offensively, that would be more than enough for the Lakers.</p><h3>Conditioning concerns are overblown</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/cropped_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/783458/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212828285.jpg?ts=1746211134 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Harry How / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>I won't sit here and argue that Doncic is in tip-top shape. He can certainly improve his body and conditioning, but it's not the issue Harrison and other detractors would have you believe.</p><p>Doncic has played over 80% of games since his 2018 debut, averaging 66.2 appearances per 82 contests. He's logged between 35 and 38 minutes per game in each of the last four seasons, has appeared in 55 of his teams' 58 playoff games, and has often spent summers shouldering an even greater burden for the Slovenian national team (as he's expected to do at EuroBasket again this year).</p><p>You don't need a medical degree to understand that staying in shape and maintaining healthy habits helps protect the body against wear and tear. But there's also a decent amount of luck baked into some of the more serious injuries an athlete may incur, and there's no real evidence that Doncic's durability is a red flag other than the reported musings of the incompetent executive who traded him. After the most emotionally draining year of his career, an extended offseason should help rejuvenate Doncic. I expect him to be physically sharper come October.</p><p>Having said that, the five-time All-Star will likely never <em>look</em> like an elite athlete. Get over the visual component of this topic.</p><h3>Time to stop whining</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/cropped_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776738/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206449787.jpg?ts=1746211976 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Luke Hales / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It hasn't received quite as much attention as the defensive and conditioning concerns, but I find Doncic's in-game petulance the most frustrating part about him.</p><p>While every athlete complains about officiating on some level, Doncic takes it to an unbearable extreme. Watching him whine after <em>every</em> whistle, flail his arms in disbelief, and yell at refs as his team tries to get back on defense is exhausting even for neutral observers following the action on TV. Imagine how grating it must be for his teammates in the trenches with him and the refs who must continue officiating him unbiasedly. For what it's worth, Doncic ranks <a href="https://stathead.com/basketball/player-season-finder.cgi?request=1&amp;match=player_season_combined&amp;order_by=fta_per_g&amp;year_min=2019">third</a> in free throws per game - and first among non-bigs - since 2018. He's also ranked between the 85th and 98th percentile among wings and guards when it comes to drawing shooting fouls in each season of his career, per <a href="https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4432#tab-foul_drawing">Cleaning The Glass</a>. His 'Woe is me' act with the refs grew tired long ago.</p><p>Every ounce of physical and mental energy is precious over the eight-month journey to a championship. Doncic must stop wasting it on literally every officiating decision made over his 2,000-plus minutes per season.</p><h3>Few players you'd rather have</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/cropped_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780218/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209830876.jpg?ts=1746212982 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Despite these criticisms, and much to Harrison's chagrin (or disbelief), Doncic remains one of the three to five most valuable players on the planet. If you were starting a team from scratch right now, who would you prioritize before Doncic? Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the easy two, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, and perhaps Anthony Edwards or Jayson Tatum rounding out your list. I'd argue that's even a few names too many.</p><p>Doncic's combination of scoring, playmaking, pace control, pick-and-roll mastery, and teammate optimization - let alone his big-game resume - makes him the kind of talent teams spend years tripping over themselves to find. He's the foundational piece of perennial contention. If LeBron James returns and the Lakers find a big man, they'll have a chance to win a title as soon as next season, especially since Harrison somehow allowed L.A. to keep its best assets in Austin Reaves and draft picks.</p><p>If the Lakers handle their offseason accordingly, Doncic's 2026 MVP odds will look pretty juicy to me.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31177484/related

An honest conversation about Luka Doncic

Every year, 29 teams fall short of the ultimate goal, and every year those 29 teams ask themselve...

<p>Every year, 29 teams fall short of the ultimate goal, and every year those 29 teams ask themselves how they can take the next step.</p><p>With the Eastern Conference's first round in the books, here's a look at how the four eliminated teams may go about answering that question.</p><h3>Orlando Magic </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/cropped_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782902/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211377099.jpg?ts=1746203135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Fernando Medina / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Magic are in a great spot for a .500 team bounced from the playoffs in five games. They have two tentpole stars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, archetypal jumbo playmaking wings who are only 22 and 23 years old. They have maybe the NBA's best defensive guard in Jalen Suggs, also only 23. They have an identity built on size and toughness, and they've finished top three in defensive efficiency in each of the last two seasons.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>They dealt with a brutal spate of injuries this year - Wagner missed 22 games, Banchero 36, Suggs missed 47 plus the playoffs, and dynamic backup center Mo Wagner suffered a torn ACL 30 games in - and still had a strong finish to the regular season, a dominant play-in victory, and a respectable first-round showing against the defending champs. The entire rotation is under contract for 2025-26, with extensions set to kick in for Suggs and Franz Wagner and a max extension surely coming Banchero's way this summer.</p><p>It's also abundantly clear what the Magic need to add in order to take the next step, which makes their path ahead relatively straightforward. They finished 27th in points per possession this season, with the third-worst relative offensive rating in franchise history. And we're talking about a franchise that's finished with a bottom-10 offense for <em>13 consecutive years</em>. Injuries played a big part, but it's not like the Magic were built to scorch the nets even when fully healthy. Their 31.8% mark from 3-point range was the worst for any team since the 2015-16 Lakers (who won 17 games), and that sunk to 26.3% in the playoffs.</p><p>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was brought in to help fix that issue but instead had his worst shooting season in nine years. Wagner developed a hitch in his jumper and shot below 30% from deep for a second straight year. The Magic can hope for those guys to figure things out, but they can't bank on it. They must be aggressive in trying to bolster their offense.</p><p>More than anything, they need a true lead guard. Banchero and Wagner are great playmakers for their positions, but not good enough to be tasked with the level of initiation they're currently carrying. Suggs has made meaningful strides on the other end, but he hasn't demonstrated the ball-handling or pull-up shooting chops to pilot an above-average offense. The Magic own all their own first-round picks, which they can package with some of their frontcourt depth to get the backcourt help they need. Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Wagner, Goga Bitadze, Tristan Da Silva, Jett Howard, and even Anthony Black should all be on the table.</p><p>They'd obviously love to find a creator/shooter who won't undercut their identity, but if they can't acquire that type of player, they'll still have the defensive infrastructure to absorb a small guard like, say, Trae Young. Or Anfernee Simons. Or Coby White. They should also have some maneuverability under the tax to add another piece using the MLE. </p><p>Bottom line: The foundation of a contending team is in place. It's time to commit to finishing the house. -<em> Joe Wolfond </em></p><h3>Detroit Pistons</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/cropped_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/w220xh124_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/w320xh180_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/w640xh360_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/w768xh432_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775046/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2196399181.jpg?ts=1741887430 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Schwegler / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Pistons took a monumental step forward this season, going from last-place laughingstock to legitimate playoff team on the rise. The biggest development was the emergence of 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham as a genuine franchise star, giving Detroit the most important building block in constructing a contender.</p><p>It's possible the Pistons fast-track their ascent with a win-now type of move, but my money's on the team leaning on internal improvement for now. That's not a bad strategy when Cunningham is surrounded by youngsters like Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, defensive big man Isaiah Stewart, and Marcus Sasser. Thompson in particular looks poised for a breakout with a little more seasoning, and I won't be shocked if he makes the kind of leap twin brother Amen did in Houston this year.</p><p>However, it's worth noting that Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson were the only members of the Pistons' young core who earned valuable postseason rotation minutes during the team's first-round loss to New York (Stewart would have, but sat out Games 2-6 with a knee injury). Detroit relied on the contributions of veterans who won't be around long term, so it's possible the Pistons take a step back at some point rather than enjoying a linear ascent up the East standings.</p><p>Of the team's three veteran free agents - Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schroder - Beasley's the most indispensable. The 28-year-old set a franchise record with 319 made 3-pointers this season, shooting better than 41% from deep for the second straight season while earning only $6 million. Beasley's in line for quite the raise, and priority one for the Pistons this summer is retaining him. Then they can start to think about a consolidation trade. - <em>Joseph Casciaro</em></p><h3>Milwaukee Bucks </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/cropped_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782900/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206954859.jpg?ts=1746203225 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeremy Chen / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>There isn't a muckier team-building quagmire in the NBA than the one Milwaukee is mired in, nor is there a more fraught offseason ahead. The Bucks lost to the Pacers in the first round for the second straight year, but more consequentially, they lost Damian Lillard - not only for all of next season but likely for good as a star-caliber player. That basically leaves Giannis Antetokounmpo gazing at his barren surroundings like a "Fresh Prince" meme come to life.</p><p>Who's the second-best player on this team now? Kyle Kuzma? AJ Green? Anyone else conceivably in the mix for that backhanded distinction is set to become a free agent. That includes 37-year-old center Brook Lopez, who's been a core piece of the team's identity throughout the Giannis era but just effectively got played out of the Pacers series. The mercurial Bobby Portis has a $13-million player option. Gary Trent Jr. is headed to free agency after nearly shooting the Bucks to a season-saving Game 5 win in Indiana before literally fumbling them out of it.</p><p>There's no move that can salvage this for Milwaukee; the front office fired every last bullet in an effort to maximize Antetokounmpo's prime. And kudos to them, they won the franchise's first championship in 50 years, but it's over now. The Bucks have almost no young talent, don't control any of their own picks (first or second-rounders) from now until 2031, and owe 35% of their salary cap to a player who won't touch the floor next season. Even if they let Lopez walk, renounce all their other cap holds, have Portis decline his player option, and Jedi mind-trick Pat Connaughton into declining his, they won't have the cap space to bring in meaningful help. </p><p>All of which is to say: No team's trading anything of substance for anything on this roster ... other than Antetokoumpo. And as depressing as it may be for the Bucks organization and fan base to consider the nuclear option - especially considering they don't have a path to getting their own picks back for tanking purposes - there's no other way out of this corner. Having Giannis fritter away another precious prime season or two in a hopeless situation, while getting closer to free agency and thus diminishing his trade value, won't do anyone any good.</p><p>It's time for both parties to move on. All that's left to determine is how big a haul Milwaukee can bring back in what should be an insane bidding war, and whether that return will be enough to bridge the franchise to a new era with a shred of hope. -<em> Wolfond</em></p><h3>Miami Heat</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/cropped_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/w220xh124_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/w320xh180_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/w640xh360_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/w768xh432_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625482/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1758800173.jpg?ts=1746203279 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Issac Baldizon / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Between the advantage and lure of South Beach, plus team president Pat Riley's superstars-or-bust mantra, the Heat operate in a different stratosphere than most other NBA teams, for better or worse.</p><p>The average club may look at the pile of mediocrity left amid the rubble of the Jimmy Butler era and decide it's time to hit the reset button, but the Heat aren't your average team. Miami's surely eyeing starry free-agent classes in 2026 and 2027, with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo serving as solid supporting cast members for the next leading man who wants to call Dade County home. But that still leaves the 2025-26 season to figure out.</p><p>The Heat could get in the mix for the next disgruntled star eyeing a sunnier destination, but they simply don't have the goods to outbid more asset-rich competitors (unless a rival GM gets a case of the Nico Harrisons and decides to negotiate exclusively with them). The likeliest outcome is the Heat mostly run it back next season in what amounts to a bridge year before it's time to hit the gas again.</p><p>As presently constructed, the Heat once again project as a play-in caliber team (as they've been for the last three years), no matter how much head coach Erik Spoelstra squeezes out of another overmatched squad. - <em>Casciaro </em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31171109/related

What's next? Where the East's 1st-round outs go from here

History will show that the No. 3 seed Lakers were eliminated by the 6-seed Timberwolves, but let ...

<p>History will show that the No. 3 seed Lakers were eliminated by the 6-seed Timberwolves, but let the record state this was no upset. The better team won, and did so handily.</p><p>The T-Wolves were deeper, more balanced, and in the end, proved to have the best - or at least the sharpest - superstar in Anthony Edwards.</p><p>The Lakers found themselves rejuvenated after the stunning midseason acquisition of Luka Doncic, but Minnesota still outpaced them from the date Doncic made his debut (Feb. 10) through the end of the regular season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A Timberwolves team trying to reinvent itself after its own blockbuster trade really found its two-way identity down the stretch. Minnesota was one of four teams to finish with top-10 marks on both ends of the court, joining the 68-win Thunder, 64-win Cavaliers, and defending champion Celtics. Between the regular season and playoffs, the T-Wolves lost twice in all of April.</p><p>Julius Randle was never going to replace Karl-Anthony Towns' offense, but he settled into a perfect role between Edwards and Rudy Gobert, doing just enough damage as a secondary scorer and interior bully while becoming a more consistent playmaker and defender.</p><p>The Timberwolves brought an impressive supporting cast to the playoff stage, including Jaden McDaniels, Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Lakers entered the series with an ensemble so flimsy, head coach JJ Redick famously elected to play his starters 24 straight minutes in the second half of a crucial Game 4 loss. Between Doncic and Austin Reaves, two of the Lakers' top three players were easy targets for opposing offenses to pick on. The T-Wolves' rotation features no such sieves.</p><p>Los Angeles' lack of a dependable big man proved too much to overcome against Minnesota's giant frontcourt, so much so that a defensive-minded center with bad hands and no touch put up a Wilt-like stat line to send the Lakers packing.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Players with 25/20 on 75+ FG% in playoff game:<br><br>Shaq<br>Wilt<br>Moses<br>Horace<br>Unseld<br><br>and Rudy Gobert. <a href="https://t.co/4yzKABbiQn">pic.twitter.com/4yzKABbiQn</a></p>— StatMuse (@statmuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1917804968687419553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Timberwolves' margin for error was so great that they were able to win a road closeout game despite going 7-of-47 from deep; the <a href="https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1917809038227546589">worst</a> high-volume shooting performance in playoff history.</p><p>I <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263652" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263652">picked</a> the Lakers to win despite all the advantages tilting the scale in Minnesota's favor. Quite frankly, I couldn't bring myself to pick against the team with Doncic and LeBron James in a series I thought could go the distance. The fact that neither proved to be the best player in the series (though both had their moments) was the final nail in L.A.'s coffin.</p><p>That says more about Edwards than it does about the Lakers duo. The 23-year-old picked L.A. apart on the offensive end, put forth a commendable effort on the defensive end, and generally played what felt like mistake-free basketball. Edwards had already shown us time and again that he's the special breed of superstar made for the biggest moments. And that was before he rounded out his game. He returns to the postseason this year with another game-breaking superpower, having turned himself into an elite, high-volume 3-point shooter.</p><p>If the national audience wasn't already aware, the Timberwolves served notice that despite a franchise-altering trade, last year's Western Conference finalists remain dangerous, just with some new wrinkles. I would lean Minnesota even in a potential second-round series with the Warriors and would definitely like the T-Wolves' chances against the young Rockets.</p><p>As for the Lakers, the best word to describe them at this point is incomplete. We knew that would be the case once their deadline-day deal for fragile Hornets big man Mark Williams fell through, and they ended up running into a Timberwolves team well-equipped to expose their deficiencies. Doncic, James, and Reaves are a terrific starting point, but Los Angeles has to find a competent big and more depth this summer.</p><p>The team also needs Doncic to arrive in peak condition, physically and mentally, after the most emotionally taxing year of his career. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made a calamitous mistake in trading Doncic for Anthony Davis without at least canvassing the league for the best offer, but complaints about Doncic's defense and constant whining to the officials, among other grievances, are warranted. It says something that when he was slowed by an injured back in the second half of Game 5, Doncic's defensive mobility was barely worse than when he's at full strength.</p><p>Those are the Lakers' problems for the offseason, though. The Timberwolves have unfinished business in the postseason. The better team is still playing.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31158659/related

The Timberwolves were the better team all along

The first-round series between Oklahoma City and Memphis has been fairly routine, with the league...

<p>The first-round series between Oklahoma City and Memphis has been fairly routine, with the league-leading Thunder taking a 3-0 lead over the Western Conference's No. 8 seed. But this matchup's been a particularly deflating reminder of all the Grizzlies have lost.</p><p>Memphis is getting a close-up look at a team that is everything the Grizzlies were supposed to be but never will.</p><p>Before we dive into a premature postmortem, it should be noted that Ja Morant's Game 3 hip injury obviously changed the tenor of that contest. But the ultimate result of this series was inevitable, and the fact Memphis blew a 29-point lead at home - with or without Morant - only reinforces that.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA biggest playoff deficits" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-RlVOM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/RlVOM/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="211" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>That says as much about the juggernaut facing the Grizzlies as it does about Memphis. This Thunder squad became the seventh team ever to win 68 games in a season and racked up the best point differential in NBA history. The club's methodical rebuild has seen it rise, step by step, from a 58-loss club in 2022 to a play-in contestant in 2023, to the youngest No. 1 seed and series winner in league history in 2024, to championship favorite in 2025, all while hoarding a treasure trove of draft capital.</p><p>The Grizzlies were the toast of the NBA during OKC's 24-58 campaign three years ago. Memphis won 56 games with the league's fourth-youngest roster in 2021-22. Morant was tabbed as a future face of the league, and who could argue? He was an audacious, relentless, fearless high-flyer who was already driving the type of team success even superstars often wait years to enjoy. "I'm fine in the West," Morant famously <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wgSIz2AEzck">proclaimed</a> later in 2022, confidently projecting conference dominance.</p><p>His two costars, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, gave the Grizzlies the Association's most promising big three of the time, while then-head coach Taylor Jenkins was making a habit of overachieving.</p><p>Much has unfolded in the three years since, but the short version goes something like this: Morant spent too much time on the shelf due to injuries and suspensions related to social media gun play. The Grizzlies as a whole have been derailed by an almost unfathomable number of injuries. Former glue guy and habitual line-stepper Dillon Brooks was scapegoated and eventually bolted to a division rival (Houston, which has since leapfrogged Memphis). Tone-setting veterans like Steven Adams are long gone. Philosophical differences between Jenkins and general manager Zach Kleiman led to Jenkins' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252646" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252646">dismissal</a> a few weeks before the 2025 playoffs began, with assistant Tuomas Iisalo taking over despite the fact Jenkins had the banged-up squad sitting fifth in the unforgiving West.</p><p>And just like that, a prodigious team that appeared destined for years of progress and triumphs now looks to be fading out, having peaked with a hard-fought second-round series in 2022 against the eventual champion Warriors.</p><p>You could argue the Grizzlies are a cautionary tale for the Thunder, especially in the apron era, when many contenders will rise and fall <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2940429" href="https://thescore.com/news/2940429">faster</a> than before. But that's not the story of this matchup, which was so perfectly encapsulated in Memphis' Game 3 collapse.</p><p>Oklahoma City's secondary stars, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, overwhelmed the Grizzlies in the second half while Bane and Jackson struggled to make their presence felt. Veteran addition Alex Caruso wreaked havoc on the defensive end, flummoxing a team without its best player or an identity. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - the MVP front-runner who'd yet to make an All-Star team when Morant was spearheading the 56-win Grizzlies - logged a game-high 40 minutes. Morant, forced to leave in the second quarter after a scary fall, logged 15. </p><p>In a parallel universe, this meeting of the postseason's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3272746" href="https://thescore.com/news/3272746">two youngest</a> squads could've been a preview of many playoff battles to come for Western Conference supremacy. Instead, we're seeing two teams headed in opposite directions.</p><p>The Thunder's star trio and an incredibly impressive supporting cast will continue their quest to become the youngest champions in NBA history. The Grizzlies will dissect all the ways they've fallen short over the last three years, and consider the possibility of breaking up their own trio.</p><p>If Iisalo is the right man for the job in Memphis, he'll likely have to prove it with a different version of the Grizzlies. Whatever that team looks like, Memphis can only hope it's half as good or as promising as the team that's usurped its destiny atop the West.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31089474/related

The Thunder are everything the Grizzlies were supposed to be

We've come to accept certain fundamental truths about NBA champions. For example, title hopefuls ...

<p>We've come to accept certain fundamental truths about NBA champions. For example, title hopefuls must be two-way teams led by All-NBA caliber superstars.</p><p>Every spring, we evaluate the NBA playoff field by reviewing the championship prerequisites and finding which clubs meet the standard in our annual <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3267849" href="https://thescore.com/news/3267849">Anatomy of a Champion</a> feature. But this year's analysis generated some interesting results.</p><p>The conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers were the only teams to measure up, which shouldn't surprise anyone. However, either club winning the 2025 title would be breaking the mold. If history is any indication, the Thunder and Cavs are too young and too inexperienced to survive the NBA's two-month, four-round playoff gauntlet. A level of maturity and steeliness is required to win it all, and that's something a team can only acquire through years of paying its postseason dues.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Thunder are already an extreme outlier. The six previous teams to win 68 games in a season had average ages ranging from 27 to 30.7, with a collective average of 28.8. Likewise, the squads that own the second- through sixth-best point differentials in NBA history - all of whom won championships - had average ages between 26.1 and 29.5, with a collective average of 28.4. The 2024-25 Thunder, who went 68-14 with the best point differential ever, have an average age of 24.8.</p><p>With all that in mind and prompted by a reader's <a href="https://x.com/BrandNewLions23/status/1912890357421097434">question</a> on X, I wanted to see just how unprecedented it would be for a team that young to win the title. In fact, the 2025 Thunder could become the youngest champions since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, who had an average age of 24.5.</p><p>However, Oklahoma City's regular rotation skews even younger. On a quest to tell the whole story, I dug into the eight-man playoff rotations of the last 20 champions (the span used for our Anatomy of a Champion feature). We'll use eight players because it seems to be the most consistent cutoff between true rotation players and those on the fringes. For example, Norman Powell was the eighth man for the 2019 Raptors. Jodie Meeks was the ninth.</p><p>After identifying the eight players in each champion's playoff rotation, I calculated the average age of the groups (using Basketball Reference's ages) and the total number of postseason games played by that rotation entering the playoffs in question.</p><p>Without further ado, let's dig into the numbers.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA Champions rotation age and playoff experience (games)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-DNFpv" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DNFpv/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="677" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>And here's that same data for the 2025 playoff field, listed in order of their championship odds (via <a href="https://thescore.bet/sport/basketball/organization/united-states/competition/nba/section/futures">theScore Bet</a> and <a href="https://espnbet.com/sport/basketball/organization/united-states/competition/nba/section/futures?_branch_match_id=1425915068327217175&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTy0uyEtKLdFLLCjQy8nMy9Y3MK90NM%2F09%2FfzTLKvK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2ydc4oys9NBQCdY1fJPgAAAA%3D%3D">ESPNBet</a>):</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA 2025 playoff teams rotation age and playoff experience (games)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-BKbgC" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BKbgC/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="560" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Some takeaways:</p><ul><li>The Thunder are younger than any champion in NBA history and would be the least experienced title team since the 1981 Celtics, whose eight-man playoff rotation (which included a sophomore Larry Bird) entered the spring with only 90 combined postseason games under its belt. Oklahoma City checks every box of a historically dominant champion. However, winning a title without taking their playoff lumps or experiencing years of postseason heartbreak would cement the Thunder as a generational outlier. This is only the second postseason appearance for half of OKC's rotation.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>The first-round matchup between Oklahoma City and Memphis features the two youngest and least experienced playoff teams in the field. It's a surprising reminder of how young the Grizzlies' core was when Memphis broke through a few years ago and how much credit the since-fired Taylor Jenkins <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252646" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252646">deserved</a> for guiding that early success.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>With a whopping 700 playoff contests on the rotation's resume, the defending champion Celtics boast more postseason experience than all but one (2014 Spurs) of the last 20 champions. It's hard to believe Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are now the faces of the league's most grizzled playoff team. That's what happens when you reach six conference finals in eight seasons and supplement your young stars with postseason vets like Al Horford and Jrue Holiday over the years.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>The East-leading Cavs aren't quite as young as Oklahoma City, but Cleveland is still younger than every champion since the 1980 Lakers, who won the title in Magic Johnson's rookie season. The Cavs are also less experienced than your typical 64-win juggernaut; even the sixth-seeded Pistons' rotation features more playoff experience. That's a testament to the veterans (Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder) Detroit brought in to aid franchise star Cade Cunningham this year. It's also a reminder of how green this Cavs team still is outside of Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>On the opposite end of the spectrum, history tells us that the surging Clippers are too old to get the job done. With an average (playoff rotation) age of 31.4, the 2025 Clippers are older than any champion since the 1998 Bulls (31.6), Chicago's last title team of the Michael Jordan era. The hope in L.A. is that Kawhi Leonard returned to the lineup at just the right time - early enough to ramp up for the playoffs but late enough in the season to avoid fatigue. If Leonard's Game 2 performance in Denver was any indication, that might be the case. Still, as great as Leonard looks and as complete a squad as the Clippers have been since his return, expecting Leonard and a 35-year-old James Harden to go the distance this spring seems like it's asking too much.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>The Knicks come up just short in the playoff experience department compared to the last 20 champions. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say four fewer playoff games than the 2015 Warriors spread across an entire rotation hardly disqualifies New York as a serious contender.</li></ul><div> </div><ul><li>In the shadow of Oklahoma City's unprecedented combination of youth and performance, the young Rockets put together quite a season in their own right. Houston finished second in the unforgiving Western Conference and fourth overall despite relying on a rotation mostly comprised of players aged 23 and younger. The veteran trio of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Steven Adams brings all 140 contests of this rotation's playoff experience, with none of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., or Tari Eason having logged a single postseason minute before Game 1 against the battle-tested Warriors.</li></ul><div><em><span style="font-size:18px"><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</span></em></div>

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Will youth be served? History says Thunder, Cavs too young to win it all

NBA players and teams all come into each season with their own set of internal and external expec...

<p>NBA players and teams all come into each season with their own set of internal and external expectations. Everyone is chasing the same goal, but different circumstances produce drastically different stakes. Playoff runs and championship chases aren't created equal.</p><p>Here are the players and teams who are under the greatest pressure to deliver - the ones who stand to gain or lose the most - this postseason. </p><h3>Oklahoma City Thunder </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/cropped_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/w220xh124_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/w320xh180_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/w640xh360_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/w768xh432_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754274/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2176977444.jpg?ts=1744909335 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Zach Beeker / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Some Thunder players are under more pressure than others this spring. For example, while MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already proven his worth on some of the game's biggest stages, secondary stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren must show they're ready to serve as championship-level No. 2s. But I went with the team as a whole because franchises don't get better chances to win a title than the opportunity staring Oklahoma City in the face.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Sure, the Thunder are seemingly built to last, with a perfectly fitting young star trio and one of the league's most enviable collections of draft capital. But OKC doesn't need to be <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html">reminded</a> that sometimes a team's first real chance at a title ends up being its best chance - or its only chance.</p><p>The Thunder finished <em>16</em> games ahead of the second-place Rockets in the Western Conference standings, becoming just the seventh team in the NBA's 79-year history to win at least 68 games. The last three to do so all made the Finals. No team has ever posted a better point differential, and the historic teams that own the second- through fifth-best point differentials all won championships. They have a top-tier superstar in his absolute prime and own the best league-adjusted defense of the last five years. They have home-court advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. The time is now.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="High achievers" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-mdgje" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mdgje/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="386" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>That point is magnified by the fact that the small-market Thunder will soon get mighty expensive in an <a href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2940429">apron</a> world, with Williams and Holmgren eligible for extensions this summer. - <em>Joseph Casciaro </em></p><h3>Cavaliers' core 4</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/cropped_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781077/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206765602.jpg?ts=1744909497 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Sevald / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Individually, every member of the Cavs' main quartet has had nice playoff moments. Darius Garland was a bright spot in an otherwise ugly first-round loss to the Knicks in 2023. Donovan Mitchell has produced some monster series over the years, and he almost single-handedly dragged Cleveland through a first-round war against Orlando last year. The lights didn't prove too bright for Jarrett Allen in that Magic series, though he was sidelined with a rib injury after four games. Evan Mobley showed out in the ensuing second-round series against Boston, especially after Mitchell joined Allen on the shelf.</p><p>Collectively, though, this group has been a major postseason disappointment. Cleveland's core four has been tentative, skittish, and physically overwhelmed on this stage. That Celtics series turned out to be a write-off, but the Cavs should've been more competitive against the Knicks and should've had a much easier time dispatching the Magic. You can blame inexperience for what happened two years ago and injuries for what happened last year, but there are no excuses this time around.</p><p>The Cavs just won 64 games and cruised to the East's No. 1 seed with a top-20 net rating in NBA history. Offense was their big playoff bugaboo the last two years, but they led the league on that side of the ball this season and ranked 16th all time when adjusting for era. Mobley made a big offensive leap and might win Defensive Player of the Year. Garland has clearly put last year's jaw injury behind him and is back to playing like an All-Star. Mitchell has a shot to make All-NBA first team. Allen has been rock-solid in the middle and played in all 82 games after being questioned by teammates for sitting out last spring. And they finally have an ideal big wing to slot between them, De'Andre Hunter.</p><p>They have an easy first-round matchup against Atlanta/Miami that they should take care of in five games or fewer. Then they'll face a tougher but still winnable series against Indiana or Milwaukee. Anything less than a competitive conference finals loss to the Celtics will feel like a letdown for a team that <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3267849" href="https://thescore.com/news/3267849">ticks every box</a> as a championship contender. If the Cavs fall short of that, after the regular season they just had, the noise surrounding this core's playoff viability will get extremely loud. - <em>Joe Wolfond </em></p><h3>Karl-Anthony Towns </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/cropped_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777425/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206500013.jpg?ts=1744910800 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David L. Nemec / NBA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Few roles come with more pressure than that of Knicks savior. You could argue Jalen Brunson actually shoulders that responsibility, or point out that New York surrendered more to acquire Mikal Bridges. But Towns - a tri-state area native - was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle, the finishing touch on a contender years in the making.</p><p>Towns delivered in his first season with the Knicks, averaging 24.4 points and a career-high 12.8 rebounds on 63% true shooting, putting him in contention for a third career All-NBA selection. But the regular season (and offensive production) has never been an issue for Towns. The postseason is where his demons reveal themselves, and this time, they'll be waiting for him next to the many ghosts that have haunted the Knicks over the decades since their last championship in 1973.</p><p>For New York to end its 52-year title drought and for Towns to silence his critics - which it appeared he'd done in leading Minnesota over Denver last year before unraveling in the West final - he'll have to avoid the rushed offense, sketchy decision-making, and jittery, foul-happy defense that's plagued his postseason career.</p><p>The Knicks' defense has been better since center Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup, but he's unlikely to start, meaning there'll still be plenty of minutes for New York to survive with Towns at the five. That could be a problem, as The Big Bodega has neither the footwork to defend in space nor the track record of a rim-protector. - <em>Casciaro</em></p><h3>Julius Randle </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/cropped_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781082/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179617980.jpg?ts=1744910960 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>There are a lot of reasons why the Timberwolves haven't performed as well this season as they did last, and why they might not go as deep in the playoffs. But considering how little else about their roster has changed, here's the one people are most likely to glom onto if things go poorly: Last year, the Wolves started Towns at power forward and reached the conference finals; this year, they start Randle at the four and might get bounced in the first round.</p><p>That's obviously unfair to Randle, who's been adaptable and mostly very good in Minnesota. But it's the reality of the position he was put in when he got traded for Towns, a pillar of Minnesota's best team in 20 years. I'd argue Randle has even more to prove; Towns at least has two gold stars on his postseason resume after how he played in series wins over Phoenix and Denver last year. There's no way to sugarcoat Randle's two playoff appearances with the Knicks. He shot 39% from 2-point range and 28% from deep across 15 games, with more turnovers than assists. It was an abject disaster for a guy named All-NBA in both seasons.</p><p>The Wolves badly need regular-season Randle to show up to have a hope of knocking off the Lakers in the first round. They need the guy who committed to moving the ball, making quick decisions, and defending with focus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3242001" href="https://thescore.com/news/3242001">in the second half of the season</a>, not the one who holds the ball and jab-steps and loses track of his defensive assignment. If they get the former, they can beat L.A. and put themselves in position to return to the West finals.</p><p>The Lakers' interior defense is vulnerable, and Randle is the type of driver and finisher who can exploit that vulnerability - if he's intentional about it. JJ Redick's defensive scheme will bend heavily toward Anthony Edwards, and more than anyone else, Randle will be relied upon to capitalize. Oh yeah, he'll also start out as the primary defender on LeBron James. No pressure. - <em>Wolfond</em></p><h3>Jimmy Butler </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/cropped_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/w220xh124_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/w320xh180_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/w640xh360_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/w768xh432_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780755/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2201633035.jpg?ts=1744911033 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Butler has nothing left to prove as a playoff performer. He's the ultimate big-game player, with multiple Finals runs in Miami where he dragged inferior teams to the brink of championships to prove it. But he hasn't won the whole darn thing yet, and he's burned bridges at every stop along the way of his Hall of Fame career, using chaos as leverage in plotting each departure. Butler once again got his way in landing with the Warriors, and he got paid, with Golden State tethering his contract to those of franchise pillars Steph Curry and Draymond Green.</p><p>Butler appears on this list because of what he represents for the Warriors. He was brought to The Bay to extend Golden State's championship window and maximize what's left of Curry's career. Butler's in-between game, off-ball activity, playmaking, and general basketball IQ are precisely what the Warriors needed in their quest for a secondary star. And the way he elevated the Warriors during the regular season - plus his impressive performance in Tuesday's play-in victory - indicates he's up to the task. But he's 35 years old, can sometimes be too passive offensively, and not quite what he once was defensively.</p><p>The Warriors need Butler fully engaged and at his best just to get out of the first round, let alone to win a fifth title in 11 years. It's time for Butler to write a new ending - to prove once and for all that he's been worth every headache over the last decade, and every dollar of his new $113-million extension. - <em>Casciaro </em></p><h3>LA Clippers </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/cropped_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/w220xh124_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/w320xh180_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/w640xh360_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/w768xh432_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/610436/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1851382594.jpg?ts=1744911253 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Harry How / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Clippers have already exceeded expectations by winning 50 games and nabbing a top-five seed, so they're arguably under less pressure now than they were in previous postseasons during the Kawhi Leonard era. In many people's minds, their window had already closed. That said, these guys aren't exactly playing with house money. This is still a win-now team with aging stars, major injury risks, and limited long-term upside.</p><p>As gracefully as the Clippers pivoted from letting Paul George walk (and boy, was I <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2934216" href="https://thescore.com/news/2934216">wrong about that decision</a>), there are no moral victories for a franchise that's relinquished control of all its own first-round picks between now and 2030. And while the mid-career leaps from 28-year-old Ivica Zubac and 31-year-old Norm Powell have been heartening, it's not like the pipeline is bursting with exciting young talent. This may be the last best chance for the current iteration of the team to make a real run.</p><p>Leonard is healthy and peaking at the right time, James Harden has put forth one more (perhaps final) great season at age 35, and the Clippers are entering the playoffs as one of the league's hottest teams, having won eight straight and 18 of their last 21. There'd be no shame in losing a second-round series to the Thunder, but L.A. should be favored in its first-round matchup against a Denver Nuggets team in disarray. The Nuggets have home-court advantage and the best player in the world, but the Clippers are deeper and have much better two-way balance.</p><p>Adding to the sense of stakes is the fact that Denver's been something of a boogeyman for L.A. in recent years. The last time the Clippers got a healthy playoff run from Leonard, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led a comeback from 3-1 down to bounce them from the bubble. Kawhi and Co. now have a chance to exorcise those demons and shed some serious psychic baggage. They can't afford to squander it. - <em>Wolfond </em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31008821/related

Playoff pressure index: 3 teams and 3 players with the most to prove

What does a champion look like?  Anyone familiar with the pantheon of NBA champs knows certain te...

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Anatomy of a champion: Which 2025 teams fit the statistical profile?

The Toronto Raptors opened the season with five rookies on the roster, four of whom will finish t...

<p>The Toronto Raptors opened the season with five rookies on the roster, four of whom will finish the year in the top 10 on the team in minutes played. That's not exactly out of the ordinary for a rebuilding club, but the play of those debutants and the general promise of Toronto's rookie class is unique.</p><p>The Raptors appear to have found four future rotation players in Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, and Jamison Battle (plus G-League big man Ulrich Chomche, who might have the highest ceiling of them all) despite entering a weak 2024 draft without control of their own picks.</p><p>That could prove hugely beneficial as Toronto looks to build a contending team in the coming years, with a stable of good players on cheap contracts vital in the age of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2940429" href="https://thescore.com/news/2940429">aprons</a>. The presence of the most impressive of those rookies is what should give Raptors fans hope that their once celebrated front office got its groove back.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The story begins with the 2024 draft-day transaction that landed Shead, with Toronto leveraging Sacramento's desire to dodge the luxury tax. The Kings wanted to get off of Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov's contracts, and the Raptors were happy to help. For their efforts, the Raptors received the 45th pick in the 2024 draft (Shead) and a 2025 second-round pick (via Portland) in addition to Mitchell and Vezenkov. Meanwhile, Toronto merely shipped out Jalen McDaniels, a below-replacement-level player who had no place in the team's rebuild.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/cropped_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777827/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206771362.jpg?ts=1744305960 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>For what it's worth, that 2025 Blazers pick is on track to land 39th in this June's draft, meaning the Raptors acquired Shead and an even better pick (in a superior draft) than the one used to select him.</p><p>Vezenkov was waived (allowing the Bulgarian to head back to Europe), while Mitchell was flipped to Miami ahead of this year's trade deadline in a deal that netted Toronto a 2026 second-rounder (via the Lakers). Essentially, over the span of eight months, the Raptors turned Jalen McDaniels into Jamal Shead, two second-rounders, and cash.</p><p>It's the type of fleecing and subsequent development story that had become so familiar to the Raptors' front office a decade ago. Back then, the Raptors were in the midst of a seven-year playoff run that ultimately culminated in a 2019 championship, all while the team churned out young talent and consistently found diamonds in the rough.</p><p>It's reminiscent of the 2015 trade that sent Greivis Vasquez to Milwaukee while landing Toronto second-rounder Norman Powell and a 2017 first-rounder that turned into OG Anunoby. However, Shead's undersized stature, valiant compete level, No. 23 jersey, and general character have Raptors fans thinking of another developmental gem from that era, Fred VanVleet.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/cropped_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779911/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190535702.jpg?ts=1744310855 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The chances Shead turns into an All-Star or the type of player who earns a Finals MVP vote, as VanVleet did, are slim. But he has the makings of a solid two-way guard and key contributor for years to come, which would be an incredible result for both Shead and the organization given his draft position.</p><p>Shead's a sneaky great athlete, and he plays with a force on both ends that betrays his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame. He's a high-IQ guard who ranks fourth league-wide in <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?PerMode=Totals&amp;StarterBench=Bench&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=AST">bench assists</a>, and he's averaged 10.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals since the beginning of March. That quarter-season sample coincided with a soft schedule that often saw Toronto battling fellow tankers, but head coach Darko Rajakovic saw enough from Shead to determine it wasn't just the product of a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263557" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263557">Mickey Mouse March</a>.</p><p>"I've seen a lot of growth and a lot of leadership potential from him," Rajakovic told reporters before the Raptors' final home game of the season.</p><p>What does that leadership look like? "He can sing really well, so he keeps the atmosphere light," Rajakovic joked about a player who's becoming a fan favorite on and off the court. (One recurring pregame gag sees Shead pretending to be <a href="https://x.com/JamalSheadMuse/status/1907948404107338134/photo/1">surprised</a> and confused when the camera cuts to him during the Canadian anthem).</p><p>"All jokes aside, the way he competes sets the tone for everybody," Rajakovic said. "The way he goes about his business, always showing up on time, putting in extra work - all those qualities of a leader, he's got them already at a young age."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/cropped_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779931/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186890512.jpg?ts=1744316404 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Issac Baldizon / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Leadership alone won't help the Raptors win games, and Shead will have to improve as a shooter before he can even dream about reaching the heights VanVleet did in Toronto, but his combination of steady two-way play and professionalism have already made the move to acquire him a home run.</p><p>Critics will fairly point out that the difference between acquiring Shead and the scouting-and-development run the Raptors went on last decade is that Toronto used to pull such rabbits out of its hat while winning 50 games, not losing 50. In addition, the team's current roster-building <a href="https://youtu.be/OXRy9FAe9lY?si=puT1HXOdoxTeTHVc">strategy</a> is far from a sure bet to return the Raptors to relevance.</p><p>But for a front office that had seemingly <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2824403">lost its mojo</a>, Shead represents so much more than just a promising rookie or reserve guard of the future. He represents the type of shrewd decision-making and asset management that can restore the Raptors to glory. The type this franchise used to hang its hat on.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30952904/related

Finding their mojo: What Shead's rookie season says about Raptors

No NBA coach can ever feel safe again, to the extent any ever did.  Coaches don't need any remind...

<p>No NBA coach can ever feel safe again, to the extent any ever did.</p><p>Coaches don't need any reminders about the instability of their profession, but what's transpired over the past two weeks is a new level of startling.</p><p>The Denver Nuggets <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3261786" href="https://thescore.com/news/3261786">fired</a> head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just 11 days before the playoffs tip off. The only other team to fire its coach this late in an NBA season was the 1981 Hawks, who replaced Hubie Brown as Atlanta was wrapping up a 31-51 campaign. They finished 13 games out of a playoff spot. Conversely, the 2024-25 Nuggets came to this decision while sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference. Denver is also only 22 months removed from the franchise's first championship.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The mile-high housecleaning comes less than two weeks after the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252491" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252491">Memphis Grizzlies fired</a> the overachieving Taylor Jenkins while sitting fifth in the West with a top-four overall point differential.</p><p>The NBA has long been a "What have you done for me lately?" kind of league. But even "lately" now seems like an <a href="https://x.com/YossiGozlan/status/1909660977148145917">increasingly</a> tightening window for impatient owners and front offices swiping through coaches like they're on TikTok or Tinder.</p><p>Not wanting to delay an inevitable firing is understandable when a front office loses faith in its coach. But what basketball executive with any understanding of locker-room dynamics believes a coaching change in the final week of the regular season will turn a fringe contender into a surefire winner?</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/cropped_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779548/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197488735.jpg?ts=1744143554 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Post / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Someone had to eventually answer for the fact a team that employs the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37604">best player</a> in the world was merely on the fringes of title contention. But the only thing more puzzling than the timing of Denver's response was how they went about it, with Malone and Booth now out of jobs.</p><p>Such dual terminations are a task for the offseason, or for losers. Midseason shakeups of winning clubs often come when there's a clear disconnect between the front office and the head coach, as was the case <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252646" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252646">in Memphis</a>.</p><p>The tension between Malone and Booth had been reported on and whispered about since Booth replaced former team architect Tim Connelly, who left to run the division-rival Timberwolves (and for a hefty raise) in 2022. It has long been rumored that Malone hated how Booth chipped away at his team's veteran depth, leaving him to rely on youngsters who haven't always been ready to fill key roles on a contender. Booth was said to be equally perturbed by Malone's lack of faith in his plan and those youngsters.</p><p>If team president Josh Kroenke (whose father owns the team) agreed with Malone, then firing Booth would've made sense on its own. A new GM could've gotten a handle on the team's scouting, pre-draft process, and general offseason plan while Malone handled the business of postseason basketball. However, by firing Malone and <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-relieve-head-coach-michael-malone-of-duties-will-not-extend-calvin-booth">citing</a> the chase for the 2025 championship as a catalyst, Kroenke has demonstrated he still believes in the roster Booth has assembled. Plus, Kroenke would've signed off on Booth's decisions over the past few years, which largely stemmed from trying to build more cost-effective teams in an <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2940429" href="https://thescore.com/news/2940429">apron</a> world.</p><p>Yet Booth and Malone are both gone. It doesn't add up, unless Kroenke had simply grown tired of their griping. Still, the offseason would've been a better time to resolve it than the eve of the postseason, even if the Nuggets have dropped four games in a row and are only a half-game clear of play-in range.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/cropped_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/w220xh124_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/w320xh180_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/w640xh360_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/w768xh432_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/576207/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1457264094.jpg?ts=1744144068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Matthew Stockman / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The immense pressure that comes with a fading champion's last gasps now falls on the shoulders of interim coach David Adelman, a longtime assistant and the son of Hall of Famer Rick Adelman. No pressure, Dave.</p><p>The Nuggets, like the Grizzlies, will head into the postseason hoping a newly promoted coach can scramble to overcome the roster-related flaws his predecessor failed to solve with far more prep time.</p><p>It's a bold strategy, as Pepper Brooks would <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HVejEB5uVk">say</a>. Let's see if it pays off for them.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30899765/related

Nuggets one-up Grizzlies with ill-timed firing of Malone, Booth

In a season that already saw perhaps the most shocking trade in NBA history, the 2024-25 campaign...

<p>In a season that already saw perhaps the most <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3207654" href="https://thescore.com/news/3207654">shocking trade</a> in NBA history, the 2024-25 campaign now produced one of the most stunning coaching terminations.</p><p>The Memphis Grizzlies' dismissal of Taylor Jenkins doesn't quite measure up to the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic, but it's baffling nonetheless. In coaching circles, it's just as seismic.</p><p>With the playoffs just three weeks away, the Grizzlies are tied for fourth place in a stacked Western Conference, boasting a top-8 overall record (44-29) despite losing the sixth-most games to injury, according to <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/injured/_/year/2024/view/team">Spotrac</a>. Memphis owns the league's fourth-best point differential, sixth-ranked offense, and 11th-ranked defense even though franchise star Ja Morant has missed 30 games and players like Jaylen Wells, Scottie Pippen Jr., Santi Aldama, and Luke Kennard have logged more minutes than the star guard.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>That's why most of us have spent the hours since Jenkins' firing wondering what happened behind the scenes to lead Memphis to such a decision. Just as we were all left murmuring in the aftermath of the Doncic trade, this can't <em>just </em>be about basketball, can it?</p><p>Not even a dramatic feud between Jenkins and the front office, or Jenkins and Morant, would justify such a decision at this point in the season.</p><p>We can't speculate about what might've transpired off the court, but while we wait for details, here's what we can definitively say about Jenkins' Grizzlies on the court: All they ever did was overachieve.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/cropped_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/w220xh124_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/w320xh180_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/w640xh360_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/w768xh432_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/513135/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1240523542.jpg?ts=1743193242 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Murphy / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>In Morant's triumphant rookie season, Memphis fell short against the veteran Trail Blazers in the NBA's first play-in game, but the fact that the young Grizzlies were even in the postseason conversation was an accomplishment to build on.</p><p>After breaking through as an 8-seed in 2020-21, the Grizzlies exploded for 107 wins over the following two seasons, winning back-to-back Southwest Division titles and finishing second in the West twice. A hard-fought second-round loss to the eventual champion Warriors in 2022 preceded a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Lakers in 2023. But with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane forming the team's core, the future appeared bright.</p><p>Even when the team's 2023-24 campaign was derailed by Morant's suspensions and an unfathomably long injury list - Memphis lost a league-record 592 man games to injury and suspension while using a record 33 players - the Grizzlies still made strides in their own way. Notably, Jackson and Bane continued to add to their repertoires (which paid dividends this season), while Jenkins extracted more than anyone thought possible from G Leaguers and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3241470" href="https://thescore.com/news/3241470">former nobodies</a> on a nightly basis.</p><p>Sure, the Grizzlies never made a conference final under Jenkins and lost their last two playoff series as the higher seed, but given the talent on hand, how many coaches would've had the Grizzlies in the position Jenkins had them over the last six years?</p><p>One way to capture how Memphis consistently outperformed expectations in the Morant and Jenkins era is to compare its regular-season success to preseason over/unders for wins. Keep in mind when looking at these numbers that Morant has missed roughly 47% of Memphis' games over the last four years.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Beating expectations" aria-label="Range Plot" id="datawrapper-chart-eR0FR" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/eR0FR/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="314" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Under Jenkins, the Grizzlies have always been more than the sum of their parts, just like they have again this season.</p><p>That doesn't mean he was perfect. While pundits marvel at the fact that only two Grizzlies are averaging 30 or more minutes per game this season (and none average more than 32), Grizzlies fans will tell you they haven't exactly been thrilled with Jenkins' substitution pattern and general rotation management. While Memphis' new and improved offense draws rave reviews for its <a href="https://youtu.be/NhqtzxT2oVI?si=_f7J6pjvmQgFtbKV">unique</a> approach, <a href="https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1905707323278209367">some</a> see a strategy that too often reduces Morant to spectator status. Unsurprisingly, the assistant coach credited with constructing that system has also been <a href="https://x.com/espn_macmahon/status/1905716320517361879">fired</a>. (It is believed, however, that interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo also had an influence on the offensive approach, and Morant still owns a top-15 usage rate.)</p><p>The Grizzlies also seem to have lost their trademark defensive identity lately. They own a 9-13 record over the last seven weeks, are 11-20 against teams .500 or better, and there seems to be some internal tension bubbling to the surface, as evidenced by a recent <a href="https://x.com/CourtsideBuzzX/status/1904780145778446641/">confrontation</a> between Bane and Aldama.</p><p>Were those all signs Jenkins was losing control of the team, or were they merely the ebb and flow of a marathon season, particularly when a team is often banged up and missing its best player?</p><p>Barring the revelation of some behind-the-scenes scandal, the decision seems absurd. No one should be surprised if the team that made overachieving its trademark under Jenkins suddenly finds it difficult to fulfil the promise he left behind.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30777292/related

All Taylor Jenkins' Grizzlies ever did was overachieve

As you've surely come to understand, the Toronto Raptors weren't that interested in postseason ba...

<p>As you've surely come to understand, the Toronto Raptors weren't that interested in postseason basketball this year.</p><p>The 2024-25 campaign tipped off with team president Masai Ujiri publicly admitting (for the first time in his tenure) that the Raptors were <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3105674" href="https://thescore.com/news/3105674">rebuilding</a>. The front office and head coach Darko Rajakovic have reinforced the notion that this is only Year 1 of that rebuild in the months since, even as a trade for (sidelined) former All-Star Brandon Ingram seemingly <a href="https://youtu.be/OXRy9FAe9lY?si=62WEz3gp0aRfQlaJ">positioned</a> Toronto for rapid improvement next season.</p><p>Over the course of the year, we've evaluated the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3166141" href="https://thescore.com/news/3166141">progress</a> of and dug into the big <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3228679" href="https://thescore.com/news/3228679">questions</a> surrounding most members of the Raptors' young core. To be honest, the next nine games aren't going to change how the organization values or prioritizes those players. In addition, no measure of two-way excellence or April efficiency is going to catapult Scottie Barnes into All-NBA (and supermax) territory, just like nothing will change the fact Rajakovic <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3204198" href="https://thescore.com/news/3204198">should return</a>. The only matter of significance left to determine is Toronto's draft lottery odds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Raptors trail the Eastern Conference's 10th-place Heat by six games, with Miami holding the season-series tiebreaker. The postseason remains a mathematical possibility for only a few more days; the Raptors are essentially out of play-in contention and have almost secured a bottom-seven record overall. On the other hand, they're six games ahead of the 27th-place Pelicans, so a bottom-four record is also out of reach.</p><p>That leaves the Raptors in a dogfight with division rivals Philadelphia and Brooklyn for slots five through seven ahead of the May 12 draft lottery, which is why Wednesday's win over the Nets was so significant. The victory, which came despite the Raptors resting Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley (while Ingram and Gradey Dick remain sidelined by injury), widened the gap between Toronto and its … competition, for lack of a better term. The Raptors now lead the Nets and 76ers by three games, with road games in Philadelphia (Sunday) and Brooklyn (April 6) still to come.</p><p>Though the odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection in June's NBA draft vary slightly between the fifth-worst (10.5%) and seventh-worst teams (7.5%), there's still plenty at stake. For example, the Sixers' top-six protected pick has a 64% chance of remaining in Philly should the team maintain its current place in the standings. But that flips to a 68% chance of conveying to the league-leading Thunder if the Sixers move ahead of both Toronto and Brooklyn.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA lottery odds specific" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1Z0x7" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1Z0x7/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="190" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Of note: If the Nets and Sixers remain tied through the end of the season, they would share the combined odds of the lottery's fifth and sixth seeds, with the winner of a coin flip getting 9.8% odds of landing the No. 1 pick and the loser receiving 9.7% of the lottery's combinations. That's how lottery ties are handled instead of using regular-season tiebreakers.</p><p>Though the Raptors seem to be headed for the seventh-worst record, recent lottery history offers a silver lining. Since the NBA adopted its current lottery format in 2019, teams with the seventh-best odds have actually fared best out of the three slots in question.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="recent nba draft 5-7" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-pAXry" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/pAXry/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="284" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Toronto itself moved up from seventh-best odds to the No. 4 pick in 2021, when the team selected Barnes. It's a good <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2649494/man-plans-god-laughs-it-takes-more-than-tanking-to-win-the-nbas-draft-lottery">reminder</a> that while fans obsess over every game - celebrating or lamenting how each result might alter their team's trajectory - things still hinge on the results of a randomized lottery.</p><p>Finally, let's look at the type of talent that's been available recently with the draft's No. 5-8 overall picks. I've included the eighth selection because it's the most statistically likely landing spot for the seventh-worst team.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="past drafts 5-8" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-gAYsg" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gAYsg/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="348" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>While there's plenty of talent and even All-Star production in that group, the Raptors no doubt hope for something grander. The ideal outcome would be landing in the draft's top four, if not the top two, with the addition of a player like Duke forward Cooper Flagg or Rutgers guard Dylan Harper ultimately making this lost season worth it.</p><p>After all, the whole point of a rebuilding year is to land the type of franchise-changing star who ensures future springs are spent chasing championships, not tracking lottery odds.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30765459/related

What's at stake for Raptors, Nets, and Sixers over final 2 weeks

The first step towards dealing with a problem is admitting you have one, and we should all be abl...

<p>The first step towards dealing with a problem is admitting you have one, and we should all be able to acknowledge that the NBA has a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3239721" href="https://thescore.com/news/3239721">tanking</a> problem. Again.</p><p>Nearly a third of the league will spend the final month of this season trying to lose, and there's no way around the fact that's bad for business, even if franchises are selling for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3246558" href="https://thescore.com/news/3246558">record prices</a> and a mammoth new media-rights deal is already locked in.</p><p>The most egregious tanking examples cheapen and degrade the NBA product, and further lead to uncomfortable integrity questions for a league that encourages its fans to wager responsibly on games. So, what to do about it?</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The only ways to completely eradicate tanking would be to give every team in the league an equal shot at the No. 1 pick, to replace the draft lottery with something more creative like <a href="https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-nbas-possible-solution-for-tanking-good-bye-to-the-lottery-hello-to-the-wheel/">The Wheel</a> (which would see teams assigned one of 30 picks every 30 years), or to <a href="https://x.com/theScore/status/1902465099228475660">abolish</a> the draft entirely.</p><p>Such radical change seems unlikely. A two-thirds majority of owners would need to vote in favor, and most owners still want to sell hope through the draft when they can't sell wins, sell tickets, or sell established superstars on their respective markets.</p><p>The goal right now should be to find more realistic solutions. Tweaks to the current lottery system can still go a long way towards curbing the most shameless examples of intentional ineptitude.</p><h3>Flatten the odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Odds change" aria-label="Multiple Columns" id="datawrapper-chart-wPEwN" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/wPEwN/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="426" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Twenty-eight of 30 owners supported flattened odds in 2019 when the lottery format was changed so that the three worst teams each received a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 pick, rather than the worst team receiving a league-leading 25% chance.</p><p>That 2019 adjustment paid dividends: the league's gone six straight years without the last-place team winning the No. 1 pick after the four lotteries leading up to the change were all won by the worst team. Still, it's clear the NBA didn't go far enough, as evidenced by the depths teams are stooping to ahead of this spring's Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.</p><p>The first and most obvious fix is to further flatten the odds. The worst teams can still have a slight mathematical advantage, but the difference between each slot should be so minuscule that trying to maneuver from, say, sixth worst to fifth worst is pointless. The trade-off of dropping a spot or two in the overall standings shouldn't be worth the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3240647" href="https://thescore.com/news/3240647">fines</a> the NBA imposes on teams for ripping off paying customers by sitting healthy players.</p><p>However, you also can't go too far by giving every lottery team equal odds, as that would lead to lower-seeded postseason clubs having far more incentive to tank out of the playoff picture and into the lottery.</p><h3>Remove the floor</h3><p>After flattening the odds, the NBA must next increase the risk for tankers.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Lottery team draft ranges" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-QugqQ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QugqQ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="525" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>This idea builds on another change already agreed to in 2019, but one that didn't go far enough. The NBA currently uses a lottery to draw the draft's top four selections, up from three prior to 2019. It's a nice start, as lottery teams can now fall four spots in the draft from their corresponding place in the standings. (The Pistons fell to fifth in 2023 and 2024 despite owning the worst record both years.)</p><p>But the subtle change still came with too much of a guarantee for the league's most pitiful teams, as the last-place club is assured a top-five pick. Instead, <em>every</em> lottery pick should be determined via the draw, leaving no floor for teams to fall back on.</p><p>Imagine this: the best-case scenario for the league's worst team is a 1-in-10 shot at the No. 1 pick, with a chance its selection could fall anywhere in the top 14, instead of a top-five guarantee and a 14% chance of picking first overall.</p><p>The law of probabilities would make sliding 13 spots quite unlikely, but the fear alone would be enough to make prospective tankers think twice.</p><h3>No repeat winners</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/cropped_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/628503/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152094973.jpg?ts=1742591686 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Haynes / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Finally, the NBA should prohibit teams from winning the lottery in consecutive years. </p><p>Would Flagg's new team still look at a loaded 2026 draft class more favorably than a low-seeded postseason berth? Sure, but if the team knew its pick could fall anywhere from second to 14th, it may not be so eager to waste Year 1 of its new franchise player's career (and valuable rookie-scale contract).</p><p>This change would prove unfortunate for teams that win the lottery in a down year for prospects (hello, 2024 Hawks), but: too bad. This is pro sports, and the system's already designed to prop up bad teams.</p><p>Tanking on some level will always be part of the equation as long as North America's top leagues insist on sending the best young talent to save their worst-run franchises. (Even the PWHL's "Gold Plan," where teams are encouraged to stack wins after being eliminated from playoff contention, would likely tempt some squads into hoarding losses earlier in the season.) That goes double for basketball, a game uniquely vulnerable to the powers and whims of singular talents.</p><p>And that's fine, to some extent. Sports' nature means teams will always be navigating different phases of the competitive cycle and making decisions based on where they are on that journey. But more can and should be done to discourage teams from punting on entire seasons, or large chunks of one.</p><p>Promising young talent and the luck of the draw should inspire hope for fans of losing teams. But <em>more</em> losing should never be seen as the easiest way out.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30697994/related

3 lottery tweaks that would address the NBA's tanking problem

Welcome to theScore's fifth annual All-Nobody Team, an exercise meant to identify and spotlight a...

<p>Welcome to theScore's fifth annual All-Nobody Team, an exercise meant to identify and spotlight a handful of NBA players who have made a name for themselves after entering the season with relative anonymity.</p><p>We're looking for players whose NBA futures were uncertain before the 2024-25 campaign tipped off, but who have looked promising enough this year to convince me they can be NBA mainstays.</p><p>In prior years, this space spotlighted previous unknowns like Austin Reaves, Naz Reid, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Isaiah Joe, Nick Richards, Keon Ellis, and Vince Williams Jr., among others.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>As a reminder, players drafted in 2024 and first-round picks from any year are ineligible, as are players who had already logged at least 1,000 career minutes coming into this season.</p><h3>AJ Green, Bucks</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/cropped_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775100/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200409864.jpg?ts=1741898937 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stephen Gosling / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Green's 959 career minutes entering the season came in just under our 1000-minute cut-off, making him the easiest choice for this year's All-Nobody Team.</p><p>The undrafted Northern Iowa product is the type of hired gun who can get his shot off and convert at a high rate despite everyone in the building knowing exactly what he wants to do. Perhaps Green's unorthodox mechanics, which see him bring the ball further back as he loads up, have something to do with it. Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton told theScore earlier this season that Green's unique shot is one of the league's toughest to guard.</p><p>Green's 42% clip from deep ranks 11th among 169 qualified 3-point shooters, while his 3-point attempt rate of .858 (meaning 85.8% of his field-goal attempts come from long range) ranks second to 2024 All-Nobody selection Sam Merrill. It's no wonder why his minutes per game have more than doubled since last season (11.0 to 22.8).</p><p>Green caught the eye of Bucks head coach Doc Rivers long before the season tipped off, but even Rivers couldn't have predicted <em>this</em> level of success. "Watching him work this summer, he had the best summer (on our team), in terms of just his commitment to it," Rivers said. "I'm really proud of him and happy with how he's playing. His shooting is game-changing for us."</p><h3>Scotty Pippen Jr., Grizzlies</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/cropped_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757023/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185676751.jpg?ts=1741898986 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Obviously, no one named after their Hall of Fame father can ever truly be a nobody. But staying true to our eligibility rules, Pippen qualifies after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt and logging just 559 minutes through his first two seasons.</p><p>It's not just his name that makes Pippen a standout on this list. While the other four selections are natural offensive players, the Grizzlies guard is a defensive stalwart who had to find his way on the offensive end.</p><p>"You see him being a point of attack defender every single night. We knew that was one of the great traits of his DNA," Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said. "But offensively, he's a guy who can really fit our pace of play. He's attacking, getting into the paint within three or four seconds, and improving as a playmaker. These were all things we were seeing in the summer during his Summer League prep, offseason workouts, and even in the preseason. He's still making defense his calling card, but offensively, we've seen a lot of progress in his playmaking ability, playing in open space situations, playing in pick-and-rolls. He's just steadily gotten better in our main actions over the course of the season."</p><p>Pippen ranks sixth in bench assists this season, owns a 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, has been the sixth-fastest player in the league, per <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/speed-distance?CF=MIN*GE*500&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AVG_SPEED">NBA.com</a>, and has shot 37.7% from deep on decent volume (2.8 3-point attempts per game) over the last two years. That level of offensive competence is more than enough to see him stick in the Association when coupled with his disruptive perimeter defense.</p><p>From an undersized long shot known simply as Scottie's son, to logging the fifth-most minutes on a second-place contender, Pippen has made his own way. "We've had to lean on him a lot, just with our injuries to start the year" said Jenkins. "He's played different roles – out of the rotation, being a third point guard, being a second point guard, playing 30 minutes a night." Safe to say Pippen has aced every test.</p><h3>Jay Huff, Grizzlies</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/cropped_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/w220xh124_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/w320xh180_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/w640xh360_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/w768xh432_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751932/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2180552907.jpg?ts=1741899063 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Murphy / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Every team wants a big man who can spread the floor on one end and protect the rim on the other. But not many teams, if any, envisioned Jay Huff would be one of the best examples of that two-way prowess.</p><p>Undrafted out of Virginia, Huff logged 5.3 minutes per game while suiting up in just 31 contests for three different teams over his first three seasons in the Association. Then the Grizzlies came calling, and the partnership has proved a match made in heaven.</p><p>The 7-foot-1 center has canned 41.5% of his 3.3 3-point attempts per game while contesting the third-most shots per minute on the defensive end among 337 players who have logged at least 500 minutes, per <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/hustle?CF=MIN*GE*500&amp;PerMode=PerMinute">NBA.com</a>. Huff's not the most mobile defender, but the former G League Defensive Player of the Year can at least use his size as the last line of defense. His defensive field-goal percentage of 57.8 isn't spectacular, but it's solid enough, ranking 24th out of <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-impact?CF=DEF_RIM_FGA*GE*100&amp;PlayerPosition=C&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT">64 centers</a> who have contested at least 100 shots, just behind Brook Lopez.</p><p>Huff's minutes have fallen off as the Grizzlies have gotten healthier over the last couple months, but I'd be willing to bet he has at least one big game in him during the stretch run or playoffs.</p><p>As for why the Grizzlies seem to always discover such diamonds in the rough, Huff says it's no coincidence. "It's a very simple system, especially now. Guys play to their strengths within that, but it's still structured in a way that works well for a wide variety of players. And then the way they use the G League - there's some real talent down there. There are guys that have been in the G League for years, that if given the right opportunity, are NBA players. I think (the Grizzlies) have a really good view of the G League. It's developmental, yes, but it's not a separate thing."</p><p>The fact Memphis has ranked in the top three in man games lost to injury two years in a row also helps lead to increased opportunities for players like Huff and Pippen. But injuries alone can't explain it. Jenkins' Grizzlies share the wealth, with only one player (Desmond Bane) averaging more than 30 minutes this season.</p><p>"There are teams that play a lot of players. I think that helps. That's not to say teams who don't play as many players are doing it wrong, but it is what it is, there's just more opportunity with some teams than others," Huff told theScore. "I think places like that are good places to be for myself, for Scotty, for guys coming up through the two-way (contract) route or through the G League. Memphis has always been a good place to be for guys like us." </p><h3>Jamison Battle, Raptors</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/cropped_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759096/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187891563.jpg?ts=1741899122 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andrew Lahodynskyj / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The only rookie on this year's list, Battle has been a quiet revelation in Toronto for those paying attention to the Eastern Conference tanker, er, rebuilder.</p><p>Undrafted after five collegiate seasons at Ohio State, Minnesota, and George Washington, Battle has logged plenty of G League time this year, but he's shown the makings of a long-term NBAer in his limited action for the big club.</p><p>First and foremost, Battle is an elite shooter who knows his role. He's shooting 41.6% from deep, with more than 75% of his shot attempts coming from long range. Among all rookies in the 3-point era (since 1979) who made at least 60 total 3-pointers, Battle's conversion rate ranks 15th, per <a href="https://stathead.com/basketball/player-season-finder.cgi?request=1&amp;order_by=fg3_pct&amp;year_min=1980&amp;ccomp%5B2%5D=gt&amp;cval%5B2%5D=60&amp;cstat%5B2%5D=fg3&amp;season_end=1">Stathead</a>. He's not just a shooter, though, occasionally flashing some inside-the-arc craft or putting on an off-ball clinic with his movement and cutting.</p><p>That combination of shooting, movement, and basketball IQ should see Battle competing for serious minutes as soon as next season, with head coach Darko Rajakovic raving about the rookie's growth behind the scenes. "He's very focused. He's very motivated. He's very coachable, and you can see a lot of development and progress with him already. He's improved his defense tremendously from the point where he was when he came to us," Rajakovic said. "He's just the ultimate team guy. Everyone likes him. He brings a lot of value."</p><p>As for next steps, Rajakovic said he sees the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder guarding guards and forwards, improving his defensive screen navigation, and rounding out his offensive repertoire. "More of his shots from the 3-point line have to come, not just necessarily from stationary positions, but on the move," Rajakovic said.</p><p>"Once teams are chasing him off the line and not allowing him to get those shots, what's next? Being able to get to the rim, using two dribbles to touch the paint is very important, and playmaking from there. Is it going to be a layup, or his nice little floater, or connecting with his teammates?"</p><h3>Johnny Juzang, Jazz</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/cropped_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775064/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204753814.jpg?ts=1741891097 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mitchell Leff / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Juzang logged 604 minutes across 38 games through his first two seasons in the Jazz organization. He's racked up 872 minutes over 48 appearances this year, with his combination of shooting and length (6-foot-5 with a 6-11 wingspan) exciting believers like head coach Will Hardy.</p><p>"He's taken a big step this year in his isolation defense, in terms of when to brace up and use his body. On the offensive side, he's continuing to learn how to squeeze off threes when he's a marked man," Hardy told the Score. "His reputation may not be where he wants it to be yet, but he definitely has more of a reputation now than he did six months ago. You see it when he checks in the game, you can hear the other team's coaches and players identify him as someone they don't want to give catch-and-shoots to, so he's figuring out solutions and ways to still find those shots."</p><p>Juzang's been afforded extra court time and room for error with the banged-up Jazz racing to the bottom of the standings, but the 23-year-old's commitment to two-way improvement and his understanding of how role players stick in the league has not gone unnoticed.</p><p>"I feel like my defense has really gotten better throughout the season. Scoring has come more natural my whole career and I improved my 3-ball last year, but if you can do those things and also be a strong defender, get steals, get deflections, that can make you really valuable," Juzang said. "During the summer and offseason, defense is really in my workouts. I'm working on my body, getting stronger, and working on lateral movement. I'm really guarding, playing one-on-one, and trying to put myself in positions where I can get steals and deflections, working on my anticipation. Getting defensive reps in the offseason is really important, and if you do that at game speed, you start to pick up on more stuff. </p><p>"Offensively, I've always had a quicker release, but taking the right shots is big, and also knowing where you're going to find your shots. I'm trying to space the floor the right way. Staying active and moving off the ball is a big thing coach talks to me about and works with me on, being super active off the ball, flying around, constantly spacing (the floor). You're not always going to have a lot of time on the ball, but being active off the ball helps you maximize your opportunity out there." </p><p><strong>Honorable mentions</strong>: Neemias Queta (Celtics), Moussa Diabate (Hornets), Dru Smith (Heat)</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30597498/related

The All-Nobody Team: 5 NBA players making a name for themselves this season

If the Toronto Raptors remain committed to maximizing their lottery odds for the 2025 NBA Draft, ...

<p>If the Toronto Raptors remain committed to maximizing their lottery odds for the 2025 NBA Draft, they'll have to keep the league's easiest remaining schedule and the sad state of the Eastern Conference's bottom half from getting in their way.</p><p>It says something about that conference's pathetic play-in race that neither an 8-31 start nor an 18-42 record through 60 games could bury the Raptors. Now the organization's decision-makers will have to spend the final 20 games of the season finding creative ways to avoid victory while the players they employ fight for their postseason lives.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Strength of schedule" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-dcDA3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dcDA3/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="451" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Tuesday's fourth quarter in Orlando might as well have been a preview of the Raptors' final quarter-season. Already missing starter Gradey Dick due to a knee injury, the Raptors benched fellow starters Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl down the stretch of a close game against the eighth-place Magic.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Quickley was replaced by rookie Jamal Shead with 9:43 remaining and the Raptors leading 87-78. With Toronto up 10 at the 8:07 mark, Poeltl was replaced by Orlando Robinson, who joined the team via a 10-day contract in January and only had his contract converted to a standard deal this week. (The Raptors say Poeltl is on a minutes restriction after returning from a hip injury last week.) Barnes, the cornerstone of the Raptors' rebuild and the team's biggest two-way force, exited the game for good with 7:49 remaining and Toronto up nine.</p><p>When the sputtering Magic proved incapable of grabbing the game being handed to them, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic doubled down by replacing RJ Barrett with recent two-way signee Jared Rhoden. That left Toronto to close out the final 1:37 of what had become a one-possession game with Rhoden, Robinson, Shead, rookie guard Ja'Kobe Walter, and two-way player (and Toronto native) A.J. Lawson.</p><p>Yet the Raptors still left Orlando with their 20th win of the season and a road sweep of the Magic after a couple of timely jumpers from Lawson and a miraculous <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1897118696537256357">3-pointer</a> from Walter. The unlikely victory moved Toronto within four games of the 10th-place Bulls.</p><p>If you thought that fourth-quarter lineup tinkering was a shameless display of tanking, then, to quote a 50-year-old Canadian classic, you ain't seen nothin' yet.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CuNmzc9UEbE?si=koZ6rrDwojwr6qLW&amp;start=579&amp;end=618" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>The Raptors will have to be even more intentional in the pursuit of defeat down the stretch, <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2628320">consequences</a> and ridicule be damned. Their next four games - all at home - come against the 15-46 Jazz, the league-worst 11-49 Wizards (twice), and the 21-40 76ers, who opened the season as championship hopefuls but have since shifted to lottery-focused tankers. Philadelphia, which only keeps its 2025 first-round pick if it falls in the top six, has shut down former MVP Joel Embiid for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Sixers star guard Tyrese Maxey is currently sidelined by a back injury.</p><p>The Raptors' next road game comes in Utah against the aforementioned Jazz. That kicks off a tough four-game trip, but if the Raptors steal an unexpected victory or two, they may very well find themselves in the driver's seat for the last Eastern Conference play-in spot no one actually wants. Five of the club's final 20 games come against the three teams standing between them and 10th place, and neither Philadelphia, Brooklyn, nor Chicago is any more inclined to chase a postseason berth than Toronto is (though the Bulls can always be enticed by the lure of extra revenue).</p><p>It's an incredibly awkward spot for the organization to find itself in. Though team president Masai Ujiri once famously asked, "Play-in for what?" there's a difference between making the postseason's pre-playoff tournament as a team of over-the-hill veterans and an upstart squad like this year's Raptors. Still, Ujiri and Co. surely understand that Toronto needs another impact talent, like the prospective stars who'll headline this year's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3221439" href="https://thescore.com/news/3221439">draft class</a>.</p><p>Between the growth of the team's youngsters, the <a href="https://youtu.be/OXRy9FAe9lY?si=C3pFG_8mj20Jws5I">addition</a> of Brandon Ingram, and some offseason tinkering, the Raptors could soar up the Eastern Conference standings next season. But lottery luck could take them to another stratosphere, somewhere no amount of play-in or first-round playoff experience could catapult them. And banking on a play-in loser to win the lottery <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2867120" href="https://thescore.com/news/2867120">two years</a> in a row seems like a fool's errand.</p><p>Rajakovic's decisions down the stretch in Orlando showed the team's brain trust understands that. Whether a feisty crop of youngsters, a soft schedule, and the rest of their sorry conference cooperate is another matter.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30505340/related

The Raptors have to get shameless to avoid the East play-in

Contrary to their dismal record and bottom-five standing, the Toronto Raptors have mostly enjoyed...

<p>Contrary to their dismal record and bottom-five standing, the Toronto Raptors have mostly enjoyed positive vibes and promising developments this season as they prioritize lottery odds over wins.</p><p>Franchise star Scottie Barnes has bounced back from multiple injuries to play the best two-way basketball of his career. Hometown favorite RJ Barrett has continued to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3166141" href="https://thescore.com/news/3166141">develop</a> as a scorer and playmaker, turning his "toxic asset" of a contract into a potentially team-friendly bargain (or trade chip). Sophomore Gradey Dick has hit a wall, but the 21-year-old has flashed star potential in short bursts. Ochai Agbaji has looked like a quintessential glue guy, a high-IQ, 3-and-D role player every contender could use. There's a quintet of rookies all worthy of some measure of excitement based on what they've shown Toronto thus far, either on an NBA court or in the G League.</p><p>And then there's Immanuel Quickley, who's become somewhat of a forgotten man despite signing a five-year, $162.5-million contract last summer. Quickley's first full season as a Raptor and full-time starter has been derailed by pelvic, elbow, hip, and groin injuries that have limited him to just 20 of Toronto's first 59 games.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Raptors are 4-16 in those 20 contests and have lost Quickley's minutes by an even worse margin than they have when he's off the court. Quickley has averaged 15.9 points on middling efficiency, his once deadly touch from floater range has abandoned him, and his defense has regressed to the point where it seems impossible he can share a backcourt with Dick.</p><p>But even as the losses pile up and Quickley's individual performance remains uneven, the last couple weeks have reminded us why the Raptors targeted the speedy guard as an ideal partner for Barnes in the first place.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/cropped_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/w220xh124_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/w320xh180_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/w640xh360_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/w768xh432_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636530/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2160606659.jpg?ts=1740694670 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steve Russell / Toronto Star / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Over his last seven games, Quickley has averaged 18.9 points, five assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 50% inside the arc and 39.2% from deep on 7.3 3-point attempts per game. The Raptors have also narrowly won his minutes during that stretch.</p><p>More than the results, though, it's the way Quickley has gone about his business as he gets his legs back that has finally provided reason for optimism. He looks quicker, bouncier, and generally fresher than he has all season. He's letting it fly from deep more often. He's creating advantages and putting teammates in good positions to score, even if they aren't actually doing so. (Quickley is averaging 10.7 <em>potential</em> assists since Feb. 9 compared to 9.5 in his first 13 games, according to <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/passing?DateFrom=02/09/2025&amp;DateTo=&amp;TeamID=1610612761&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=POTENTIAL_AST">NBA.com</a>.)</p><p>His ability to make things happen off the dribble and to strike fear in the hearts of opponents as a pull-up threat are desperately needed skills not only on Toronto's currently overmatched roster, but on any Barnes-led team of the future. That goes double <a href="https://youtu.be/OXRy9FAe9lY?si=onmVP9cRjRkp5GLg">with Brandon Ingram</a> now in the fold.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Pull-up 3-point leaders" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ooNIj" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ooNIj/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="299" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>The biggest knock on Quickley's shooting is that he doesn't pull the trigger enough, with head coach Darko Rajakovic often noting he wants Quickley taking 10 threes per game. For reference, his career high in a season is 6.4 (set last year).</p><p>"I think, more so, the mindset is just to be aggressive. I don't go into a game thinking, 'Alright, let me shoot this many,'" Quickley said after a recent practice. Still, Rajakovic's message is getting through. "I probably could've shot three or four more that I passed up," Quickley said the day after going 5-for-11 from deep in a loss to Miami. "When I'm aggressive, it opens up a lot of different opportunities, whether I'm getting blitzed and I can hit the pocket (pass). Just trying to be aggressive so that it opens up space for my teammates."</p><p>Quickley's presence allows Barnes to thrive off the ball rather than being forced to consistently initiate the offense. He's also a sure-handed breath of fresh air for a team that has given the bulk of its point guard minutes this season to two players (Davion Mitchell and rookie Jamal Shead) who rank 43rd and 45th out of 48 point guards in turnover rate, per Cleaning The Glass.</p><p>While we can all agree this has been a lost season for Quickley (and fans are understandably focused on draft lottery positioning at the moment), that doesn't mean the final six weeks of the year have to be. I may sound like a broken record, but the Raptors need Quickley and Barnes to get more reps together.</p><p>"My only issue is I want to see it even more," Rajakovic said of the Quickley-Barnes pick-and-roll partnership. "They've had some very productive conversations about what Scottie needs to do as a roller, how Quickley can play off of that. They didn't play together for a big part of the season. This is an amazing opportunity for us to put them in those situations, so they can learn each other."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/cropped_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/w220xh124_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/w320xh180_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/w640xh360_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/w768xh432_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772648/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1991176532.jpg?ts=1740696007 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Raptors will find themselves needing to answer some tough questions sooner than expected, as Ingram's extension and the addition of a top-five(ish) pick will see Toronto flirting with the luxury tax threshold this summer. However, Quickley's contract and injury-riddled season likely mean he's safe. Selling low on the player deemed a franchise point guard just months ago wouldn't make much sense.</p><p>For now, this partnership should continue as a marriage of convenience, if nothing else. But amid a ton of injuries, losses, and local consternation over his contract, Quickley has shown flashes of the potential that first endeared him to the Raptors. The next step, or rather the biggest question, is whether he can turn seven-game flashes into the norm. The answer will go a long way in determining which direction Toronto's rebuild veers.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30418172/related

Raptors still need what Quickley brings to the table

Ten years ago, an upstart team in Oakland laid the groundwork for a modern dynasty.  Head coach S...

<p>Ten years ago, an upstart team in Oakland laid the groundwork for a modern dynasty.</p><p>Head coach Steve Kerr took over for the deposed Mark Jackson just as Steph Curry was ready to morph into an MVP-caliber superstar, and the 2014-15 Warriors exploded into the stratosphere playing a beautiful yet devastating brand of basketball. That Golden State team cruised to its first of four championships and six Finals appearances in eight years.</p><p>History appears to be repeating itself a decade later. Not in The Bay but in The Land, where Kenny Atkinson has the Cleveland Cavaliers rolling after spending the last three years on Kerr's staff.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/cropped_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/w220xh124_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/w320xh180_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/w640xh360_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/w768xh432_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772488/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1244996681.jpg?ts=1740609174 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ned Dishman / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Cavs began the season as the fourth team in NBA history to start 15-0, while Cleveland's 35-6 record through 41 games was a top-15 all-time mark through a campaign's first half, per Stathead. The Cavs arrive in Boston for Friday's heavyweight bout against the defending champions as winners of eight straight - the team's third streak of eight wins or longer this season - and on pace for 67 wins.</p><p>Most of their contests haven't been close, either. Only <a href="https://stathead.com/basketball/team-span-finder.cgi?request=1&amp;order_by=wins&amp;timeframe=seasons&amp;span_length=58&amp;span_type=season_start&amp;single_season=1&amp;ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&amp;cval%5B1%5D=676&amp;cstat%5B1%5D=diff_pts">nine teams</a> in history (including this year's West-leading Thunder) have managed better point-differentials through 58 games.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Leaders of the pack" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-oI0pM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/oI0pM/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="473" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Still, some might find it hard to believe this club is a genuine contender. After all, this is largely the same roster that was solid yet unspectacular over the last couple of years. A whopping 96% of Cleveland's 2024-25 minutes have been filled by members of the 2023-24 Cavs team that went 48-34, according to <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/continuity.html">Basketball Reference</a>. (Only the Celtics have enjoyed more continuity year-over-year.) The Cavs are also one of nine teams to post roster continuity rates of at least 70% in each of the last two seasons, with their core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen now in Year 3 together.</p><p>Plenty of skeptics are left to wonder, could <em>Kenny Atkinson</em> really be the difference between a 48-win playoff team and a championship-level juggernaut?</p><p>The same question was asked of Kerr 10 years ago.</p><p>When Kerr took over from Jackson, the Warriors brought back virtually the same team that averaged 49 wins over the previous two seasons, with only one playoff series victory to show for it.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Warriors vs. Cavs" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-c79F3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/c79F3/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="368" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Kerr reinvented the Warriors' offense, turning a stale, predictable attack into a dizzying, read-and-react system. In addition, an early-season injury to former starter David Lee spurred Kerr to empower defensive forward Draymond Green, unlocking Green's playmaking prowess and two-way genius. Suddenly, a Warriors team that somehow ranked in the middle of the pack on offense in 2013-14 despite the Splash Bros. presence soared to second in offensive efficiency in Kerr's first season.</p><p>Fast forward a decade, and Atkinson's script has been eerily similar. He inherited an elite defensive team that wasn't getting the most out of an explosive backcourt or a defensive phenom (Mobley) in the frontcourt. Like Jackson's Warriors, J.B. Bickerstaff's Cavs averaged 49.5 wins over the last two years and won one playoff series.</p><p>Under Atkinson, the most notable difference in Cleveland's attack is Mobley, who looks more fluid and decisive. It's quite common to see the formerly rigid big man bringing the ball up the floor after corralling a defensive rebound, bullying opposing bigs inside, and even orchestrating the offense from the elbows, allowing star guards Mitchell and Garland to spend more time off the ball.</p><p>The result? Cleveland went from 16th in offensive efficiency last season to having the second-most efficient offense in league history this year while maintaining the same seventh-ranked defense.</p><p>Green, among the last remaining Warriors from the 2015 title team along with Curry and Kerr, praised Cleveland's new attack after one of the Cavs' two victories over Golden State. "That ball was humming so crazy, my head was on a goddamn swivel," Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqxUA6bacCk">said</a> on a November episode of his podcast. "They were moving that ball so fast."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/cropped_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772486/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199264282.jpg?ts=1740608860 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Nathaniel S. Butler / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Cleveland's newfound mojo can't be fully explained by Atkinson's Midas touch, just like much of Kerr's success is tied to Curry's star leap rather than sheer strategic ingenuity.</p><p>Atkinson's Cavs are deeper and healthier than Bickerstaff's version of the team - none of Cleveland's top-four players have missed more than six games this season. Garland, in particular, has benefited from a return to full strength after missing 25 contests last year. Atkinson, in turn, is reaping the rewards of Garland's career year. Ditto for Ty Jerome, who's been a revelation off Atkinson's bench after an ankle injury limited him to two games last season. Atkinson also has the good fortune of coaching the Cavs after the team finally found its fifth starter (or at least fifth closer) in forward De'Andre Hunter, whom Cleveland acquired at the trade deadline.</p><p>However you assign credit, there's no denying this team's level of dominance, with the 2015 Warriors serving as a cautionary tale for Cleveland's current doubters. By the time people accepted that Kerr's team was as good as its record suggested, Golden State was already raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/cropped_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/772484/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191250126.jpg?ts=1740608267 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Noah Graham / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>No Cavalier will redefine the game or warp the floor like Curry, who remains the most integral ingredient in the Warriors' secret sauce. Mobley also isn't a carbon copy of Green. Not to mention, the Cavs have no chance of landing another superstar as good as Kevin Durant was in 2016, a free-agency coup that accounted for half of the modern Warriors' titles and Finals appearances.</p><p>But Atkinson's Cavs have been just as shockingly good as Kerr's Warriors were in the coach's first season on the job. And Cleveland's title window appears wide open, with Mitchell, Garland, Allen, and Mobley all under contract for at least the next two to five years (though things can crumble quickly in an apron world).</p><p>When you spend as Cleveland has - both in terms of asset capital and future dollars - this is the promising payoff you dream of: a rising juggernaut that looks positively Warriors-esque.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's senior Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30403058/related

Deja vu: The 2025 Cavs look a lot like the 2015 Warriors

The days leading up to the 2025 NBA trade deadline were some of the wildest we've ever seen. Belo...

<p>The days leading up to the 2025 NBA trade deadline were some of the wildest we've ever seen. Below, read our analysis on all of the biggest pre-deadline moves, followed by our big-picture takeaways from Feb. 6:</p><ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3207654" href="https://thescore.com/news/3207654">Mavs trading Doncic is a move of historically baffling proportions</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3207817" href="https://thescore.com/news/3207817">Mavs gift Lakers the lifeline to end all lifelines</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3211401" href="https://thescore.com/news/3211401">Betting on Butler is a gamble. The Warriors had no choice</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3208499" href="https://thescore.com/news/3208499">Breaking down a blockbuster between Spurs, Kings, Bulls</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3211068" href="https://thescore.com/news/3211068">Trying to make sense of Raptors' move for Brandon Ingram</a></li>
</ul><h3>Trade season is alive and well</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/cropped_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/w220xh124_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/w320xh180_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/w640xh360_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/w768xh432_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/514032/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1236324259.jpg?ts=1738879453 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Glenn James / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The rumor mill was slow in the lead-up to this year's deadline. The Jimmy Butler saga dragged on drearily, and apart from him, it seemed like Cam Johnson would be the biggest name to change teams. There were fears among NBA slop enthusiasts that the market was and would continue to be frozen by the restrictions on tax-apron teams codified in the new CBA.</p><p>Then the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, and the floodgates opened. De'Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine were moved in a three-team deal, the Heat finally bit the bullet and shipped Butler off to Golden State, the Raptors jumped at the chance to acquire Brandon Ingram, and the Bucks said goodbye to Khris Middleton. That's 28 combined All-Star appearances and 16 All-NBA appearances changing hands. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Though that flurry of activity happened in the days and hours before deadline day itself, leaving only smaller marginal moves for Thursday, this has undeniably been one of the nuttiest transaction cycles in NBA history. Amazingly, in the end, Johnson didn't even end up being one of the players moved.</p><p>Every deadline is different, shaped by its own unique circumstances. We may never see another one quite like this. But at the very least, it seems safe to say that reports of trade season's demise were greatly exaggerated. - <em>Joe Wolfond</em></p><h3>Lakers fill their big-man vacancy ... health permitting</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/cropped_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/767570/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195752637.jpg?ts=1738879484 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kent Smith / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The franchise-altering <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3207654">trade</a> for Luka Doncic landed the Lakers yet another era-defining superstar, but it left a short-term void in the frontcourt that they didn't have to fill immediately. They did anyway (after reportedly consulting with Doncic).</p><p>Mark Williams is exactly the kind of athletic, rim-running big man who should thrive in a two-man game with Doncic. The 23-year-old is averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 25 minutes this season, and his already solid interior efficiency should only improve when he starts catching lobs and passes from Doncic and LeBron James. The new-look lineup will be light on shooting but still offensively overwhelming with that trio, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura.</p><p>There's a downside to this deal, though. For one, Williams is an inconsistent rim-protector at best, and that'll be a problem with Doncic and Reaves in front of him. Further, the Lakers also have no depth left in the short term, they moved the last first-round pick they could trade outright at the moment (2031), and they parted with their best young player (non-Doncic division) in rookie Dalton Knecht. That's a lot to surrender for a young center who's missed more games (127) than he's appeared in (85) through the first two and a half years of his career. </p><p>The Lakers are obviously the biggest overall winner of trade season with their future now tethered to Doncic, but their actual <em>deadline-day</em> deal has some major boom-or-bust potential.</p><p>For what it's worth, the last remaining first-round draft capital the Lakers can trade before this year's draft (at which point 2032 picks become moveable) are pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. - <em>Joseph Casciaro</em></p><h3>Suns' outlook gets grimmer</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/cropped_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769250/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183191964.jpg?ts=1738879575 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Coduto / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Suns reportedly left no stone unturned in their quest to shake things up. The league's most expensive team went from hoping Bradley Beal would waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal for Jimmy Butler, to the possibility of replacing Kevin Durant with Butler, to even coming close to sending KD back to The Bay. All this after Phoenix traded its unprotected 2031 first-round draft pick for three protected first-rounders in an effort to land Butler (or another star).</p><p>In the end, the Suns didn't trade one of those picks to get starrier or better, but rather sent a first-rounder (the least favorable 2026 pick between Phoenix, Washington, Orlando, and Memphis) to Charlotte to get off of disgruntled and little-used center Jusuf Nurkic. If you're keeping track at home, that means the only draft capital this aging .500 team currently clinging to the West's final play-in berth has over the next seven years is a collection of pick swaps in which they'll always receive the worst pick.</p><p>As a second-apron team in tax hell, the Suns were already as all-in as a franchise could get, without the short-term success to show for it. That they turned their one remaining real draft pick into three lesser picks only to do nothing with them is another devastating blow to a recklessly assembled team now dying a slow death. - <em>Casciaro</em></p><h3>Cavs complete their starting 5</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/cropped_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/w220xh124_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/w320xh180_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/w640xh360_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/w768xh432_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769044/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2196857305.jpg?ts=1738879619 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jason Miller / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ever since trading for Donovan Mitchell two and a half years ago, the Cavaliers have been looking for a way to effectively bridge their explosive but small backcourt with their gigantic non-shooting frontcourt. The starting small forward in between that quartet has been at various points Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, and, most effectively, Dean Wade. In acquiring De'Andre Hunter from the Hawks - with LeVert and reserve forward Georges Niang going the other way - Cleveland may have finally found a more permanent solution.</p><p>Hunter's a 6-foot-8 wing in the 3-and-D mold who's enjoying by far the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3157801" href="https://thescore.com/news/3157801">best season of his career</a> at age 27. He's the league's top bench scorer, averaging 19 points a game (nearly 24 per 36 minutes) while shooting 39.3% from 3-point range on huge volume. He's evolved into a much more streamlined decision-maker this season, shooting and attacking with conviction and force off the catch. He's nowhere near the ball-handler or playmaker LeVert is, but on a Cavs team rife with on-ball creation, his offensive skills and play style probably represent a cleaner fit.</p><p>His reputation as a defender outpaces reality - LeVert is friskier at the point of attack and more consistently engaged as a helper - but Hunter's size makes him a better matchup for the big wings of the world. Though he isn't quite the movement shooter Strus is, or the defender Wade is, he kind of blends the things those two bring to the table. And unlike LeVert, who's a pending free agent, Hunter's under contract for two more years (at a reasonable $48 million) after this one.</p><p>The Cavs have a five-game cushion atop the Eastern Conference. Pushing for an upgrade at a position of need by dealing a bundle of draft assets - three second-rounders and two secondary first-round swaps - along with two rotation players signals a strong belief in what they're capable of this season. When you consider that none of the other legitimate contenders (not Boston, OKC, New York, Memphis, Houston, or Denver) made additions at the deadline, this feels like a pretty big win for Cleveland. - <em>Wolfond</em></p><h3>Bucks degrade themselves for tax relief</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/cropped_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/w220xh124_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/w320xh180_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/w640xh360_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/w768xh432_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/568142/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1249663655.jpg?ts=1738879674 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Sevald / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It was always a possibility Milwaukee would look to trade Khris Middleton this season, given his injury issues and physical decline, and given the pressure the team's under to win now. But to trade the franchise icon - who remains an effective player, in spite of his limitations - for Kyle Kuzma, of all people? And to throw in AJ Johnson (their 20-year-old first-round pick in last year's draft) and a 2028 pick swap to boot? Not ideal. The Bucks also got Patrick Baldwin Jr. in the trade but subsequently rerouted him to San Antonio.</p><p>Even with Middleton's diminished athleticism and deteriorating defense, he brought real value to Milwaukee this season with his shooting and playmaking. He still had amazing two-man synergy with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and still put up 63% true shooting (58% from 2-point range, 41% from deep) while averaging 23 minutes off the bench. The Bucks performed 5.3 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. </p><p>He obviously isn't the player he once was, but he also underwhelmed on a tight playing-time leash last regular season, and that didn't stop him from averaging 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 48/36/90 shooting across 38.3 minutes a game against the Pacers in the playoffs. He dragged that series to six hard-fought games, with Antetokounmpo out and Damian Lillard badly hobbled. </p><p>Kuzma, meanwhile, is one of the least efficient big-minute players in the league this year, posting 49% true shooting. That will probably improve significantly when he plays next to Antetokounmpo and Lillard, but Kuzma's always been a poor shooter and below-average playmaker. When he's engaged, he can be a better defender than Middleton is at this stage, but still tops out around average on that end of the floor.</p><p>The primary impetus for the deal was to shed salary. Kuzma's on a declining deal that will pay him about $13 million less than Middleton can make by picking up his player option next season. And for this season, the move gets Milwaukee below the second luxury-tax apron. The hope was that doing so would do more than just save ownership some scratch; it allowed the Bucks to aggregate salaries in subsequent trades, which they couldn't do as a second-apron team.</p><p>Unfortunately, the only subsequent trade that materialized was one that sent out MarJon Beauchamp (whose fourth-year option Milwaukee declined) in exchange for Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. - a ball-stopping gunner who's been even less efficient than Kuzma this season and is still under investigation by the NBA for domestic assault. There are seven qualified players this season with usage rates above 20% and true shooting percentages below 50%, and the Bucks traded for two of them.</p><p>They weren't especially likely to make a deep run this year regardless, but what they did at the deadline effectively punted whatever possibility remained. - <em>Wolfond</em></p><h3>Raptors zag again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/cropped_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/w220xh124_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/w320xh180_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/w640xh360_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/w768xh432_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769165/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2054044223.jpg?ts=1738824017 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mark Blinch / NBA / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The joke's on us for assuming this was finally the year we had a good read on Toronto's deadline intentions. For the third straight year, a Raptors team sitting outside the postseason picture acted as 11th-hour buyers rather than sellers. Most perplexing of all, this year's team publicly admitted to rebuilding and prioritizing the process over the results. So, what gives?</p><p>The simple answer is that <a href="https://thescore.com/news/3211068">buying low</a> on a player of Brandon Ingram's upside doesn't have to jeopardize Toronto's 2025 lottery odds. The Raptors own the league's fifth-worst record, Ingram is currently sidelined by a left ankle sprain, and the team did move three rotation players (Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, and Davion Mitchell) who all played key roles in the Raptors' recent surge. If they can keep Ingram from helping them win games over the final two months of this season, and can then retain the 27-year-old on a bargain contract going forward, it's a completely defensible bet on a one-time All-Star who may not have been available to Toronto as a free agent. However, if Ingram drives down those lottery odds and gets the kind of money he reportedly wants, I don't understand the logic.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Total outgoing</th>
<th>Total incoming</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bruce Brown</td>
<td>Brandon Ingram</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kelly Olynyk</td>
<td>P.J. Tucker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Davion Mitchell</td>
<td>2026 2nd-rd pick (via LAL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2026 1st-rd pick (via IND)</td>
<td>James Wiseman (waived)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2031 2nd-rd pick</td>
<td>Cash</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>In totality, the Raptors moved two expiring contracts, got out of Olynyk's $13.4-million cap hit for next season, traded a 2026 first-rounder they originally acquired in last year's Pascal Siakam trade, and swapped second-rounders while taking a flier on Ingram without taking on any long-term salary. That's not bad business at all. But it's not what we expected, and carries more risk than feels appropriate for a 16-35 team. - <em>Casciaro</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30142317/related

6 big-picture NBA takeaways from deadline day

If it wasn't for the Dallas Mavericks making a decision of historically baffling proportions, the...

<p>If it wasn't for the Dallas Mavericks making a decision of historically <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3207654" href="https://thescore.com/news/3207654">baffling</a> proportions, the Toronto Raptors would've easily taken home the title of deadline week's most confusing team when they traded for Brandon Ingram. It wouldn't be the first time.</p><p>But unlike their trade for Jakob Poeltl on the eve of the 2023 deadline (or their shortsighted deal for Rudy Gay in 2013), the 2024-25 Raptors had publicly committed to a rebuild. That, and the fact Toronto employed multiple veterans on expiring contracts, should've made the 16-35 Raptors an obvious seller at the deadline, not a buyer.</p><p>It's possible the team wouldn't have found suitors or recouped the second-round draft capital it presumably sought for players like Chris Boucher, Bruce Brown, and Kelly Olynyk. In a vacuum, some might see Ingram's undeniable talent and say moving Brown, Olynyk, Indiana's top-four-protected 2026 first-rounder, and a 2031 second-rounder is a better outcome than turning Brown and Olynyk into underwhelming picks or doing nothing at all. But context and timelines matter.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Siakam trade 1 year later" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-fjLia" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fjLia/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="180" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Yes, Ingram's sheer talent and raw production are impressive. He's a lanky self-creator who has averaged 23 points while shooting 51% inside the arc, 37% from deep, and 85% from the free-throw line over the last six years. He's also turned himself into an impressive playmaker, averaging 5.6 assists per game over the last four years while boasting a 100th-percentile assist rate among wings this season, according to Cleaning The Glass. And he was available for relatively cheap while still only 27 years old.</p><p>However, there's a reason for that, and it extends beyond his expiring contract. Ingram's mid-range-heavy game and overall shot diet limit his efficiency, his defensive contributions have rarely measured up to his defensive length, and he's missed 31.2% of his teams' games over the last seven-and-a-half seasons. He's averaged 56.4 games played per 82 contests since 2017-18.</p><p>Ingram's base statistics, age, and upside likely would've landed him a max contract under the previous collective bargaining agreement, but the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2940429" href="https://thescore.com/news/2940429">new CBA's</a> more punitive tax penalties and apron restrictions have teams rethinking how and when to spend their money. It's too difficult to construct a contending team when you're paying max or near-max money to a high-usage scorer who isn't especially efficient, isn't a consistent defender, and can't stay healthy. With reports that Ingram, a one-time All-Star, is seeking top dollar, you can understand why teams weren't lining up to trade for the pending free agent.</p><p>Ingram is the type of talented scorer who comes with a classic catch-22. He's not quite good enough to be the No. 1 option on a contender, but he's also not threatening enough off the ball to be a great No. 2 or No. 3. He resides in the same awkward middle ground as Toronto's all-time leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan.</p><p>On the surface, that doesn't sound like the type of player who fits best next to franchise star Scottie Barnes, a playmaking forward with limited range who needs movers and spacers around him.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/cropped_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/w220xh124_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/w320xh180_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/w640xh360_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/w768xh432_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769164/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1370605473.jpg?ts=1738823934 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>It's possible that head coach Darko Rajakovic's movement-heavy, quick-thinking offensive system brings out the best and most efficient version of Ingram, just as it's done <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3166141" href="https://thescore.com/news/3166141">for RJ Barrett</a>. If that's the case, and Ingram stays healthy, this will wind up going down as a shrewd, buy-low acquisition for a team that doesn't normally land players of Ingram's caliber on the free-agent market. Plus, the Raptors still employ all the promising youngsters they did before acquiring Ingram and control all of their own first-round picks. But there are still risks.</p><p>For this deal to be a home run (or even an extra-base hit), a couple more dominoes must fall in Toronto's favor. First, the Raptors can't let the currently injured Ingram sink their 2025 lottery odds. This move doesn't have to mean the front office is suddenly gunning for the play-in tournament, although it speaks to how strange this transaction is that Ingram can best help his new team by <em>not</em> playing right now. Second, Ingram must either be re-signed at a reasonable price or signed-and-traded for a greater return than the Raps coughed up to get him.</p><p>There's a scenario where this trade ends up a low-risk, high-reward gamble for one of the many franchises that needs to hit on such bets in order to accumulate top talent. But there are too many "ifs" associated with the deal to feel comfortable with a 16-35 team pulling the trigger on it.</p><p><em><a href="https://x.com/JosephCasciaro">Joseph Casciaro</a> is theScore's lead Raptors and NBA reporter.</em></p>

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Trying to make sense of Raptors' move for Brandon Ingram

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Joseph Casciaro

Senior NBA Writer

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