Toronto Raptors: 5 takeaways from 2018 NBA Summer League
By Derek Hryn
2. The Raptors need to place more value on the NBA Draft
In the past five drafts for the Raptors, they have mostly traded away their picks in an inferior effort to become a win-now team. Despite their 59 wins this season, they couldn’t get to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Not much changed in the Summer League playoffs, and it’s due to the lack of faith they hold in building for the future.
The East, now with LeBron James no longer present, has opened the door for other organizations. But the Raptors may have mangled their chances of winning an NBA title by their lack of commitment in developing their young prospects. The latest evidence of that is, of course, trading DeRozan and Poeltl, although bringing in Kawhi is obviously a huge upgrade if he’s healthy.
Although the Raptors hold confidence that they can keep Kawhi happy in Canada, as opposed to his desired location in LA, this team needs to start placing more value on the NBA Draft moving forward in order to build something that lasts beyond another season or two.