Title: Projecting the Raptors’ future with former NBA executive John Hollinger
Date: May 11, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, John Hollinger and I had a discussion about some of the more pressing issues facing the Raptors now and in the near-term future.
The anniversary of “The Shot” gives and takes away. On May 12, 2019, Kawhi Leonard delivered the first Game 7 walk-off in NBA history, a crucial moment in the Toronto Raptors’ quest to secure their first NBA championship. One year later, remembrance of Leonard’s four-bounce miracle is fun, sure.
It also casts to the forefront of our consciousness the reality that the Raptors are not presently engaged with the Boston Celtics (or the Indiana Pacers, or a Philadelphia 76ers rematch) as they attempt to defend their title. Under normal circumstances, the Eastern Conference Finals would be taking place this week, set to begin as early as Sunday. The Raptors, one of the season’s best stories, are instead in the same holding pattern as everyone else, with a narrative more richly hanging in the balance than most.
That leaves some big questions unanswered for whenever the NBA resumes. To help us answer some of those questions as best as possible in the present, we’ve tagged in former Memphis Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger for a wide-ranging chat about the state of the Raptors. Hollinger, now a national NBA writer for The Athletic, shared his thoughts on Fred VanVleet’s next contract, the Raptors’ young core, how Pascal Siakam stacks up with another young Atlantic Division star, and more.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 