Title: Murphy and Koreen: Who will join Luguentz Dort and RJ Barrett in Victoria this summer?
Date: April 21, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, Eric Koreen and I worked through what Canada Basketball’s roster could look like for Olympic qualifiers this summer.
Welcome to another edition of Raptors Reasonablists with Eric Koreen and Blake Murphy. Throughout the year, Raptors staff writers Koreen and Murphy discuss hot-button issues surrounding the team, but with an even-keeled approach in pursuit of finding a reasonable middle ground. If we have faith in anything, it is that reasonable middle grounds lead to a) workable long-term solutions; b) increased empathy and understanding for others; and c) more wins — at least more wins when they truly matter, probably. We hold these truths to be self-evident, and we hold these truths to be good truths.
KOREEN: Last week was certainly a complicated one for the short-term trajectory of the Canadian men’s basketball team. The player who most people would agree is the best current Canadian in the NBA, Jamal Murray, suffered a torn ACL, and will miss the rest of the NBA season. Accordingly, he will not be available to play for Canada in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria starting on June 29. If Canada qualifies for Tokyo, he won’t be there, either. A massive blow for Canada, although his ability to play was never certain given the Nuggets’ high hopes for the postseason. Get well soon, Jamal.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 