Title: 2013-14 outlook: Toronto Raptors
Date: October 15, 2013
Original Source: ESPN
Synopsis: I took part in a 5-on-5 roundtable on ESPN.com discussing the Toronto Raptors’ outlook for 2013-14.
What’s in store for the Toronto Raptors? Our panel of five looks back at the offseason moves (and non-moves) and forward to what lies ahead in the 2013-14 NBA season.
1. What grade would you give the Raptors’ offseason?
Henry Abbott, ESPN.com: B+, but not in ways that’ll translate to wins this season. Instead, they have a new front office led by Masai Ujiri, relief fromAndrea Bargnani‘s contract, a growing collection of picks (thanks, Knicks!) and the beginnings of hope.
Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Insider: C, based on sheer dullness. There was only so much the Raptors could do because of their cap situation. Cutting bait on Bargnani and actually getting some draft picks in return was solid. Signing two-fifths of Indiana’s bad bench from last season didn’t do much for me.
James Herbert, HoopSpeak: B+. Prying Ujiri away from Denver was a monumental move for the future of the franchise. While Ujiri elected to make moves around the margins rather than radically reshape the roster, acquiring the sweet-shooting Steve Novak and draft picks from New York in exchange for Bargnani was a surprising haul when Bargnani’s value seemed at its lowest.
Blake Murphy, Raptors Republic: B. Aside from trading Bargnani, a cathartic move for the franchise, it was pretty quiet. Ujiri wants to evaluate what’s currently in stock, and that’s preferable to taking dynamite to the whole thing.
Continue reading on ESPN.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 