Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Reader Draft Board: Help us set draft lottery priorities for the Raptors
Date: May 29, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I opened it up for readers to provide their own Raptors lottery draft boards as part of my pre-draft prep process. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors 2021 NBA Draft board 1.0: An early look at Evan Mobley and the lottery tiers
Date: May 27, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I took an early look at the Raptors options with their lottery pick in the draft. Read an excerpt!

Title: ‘An important step in the process of making Canada proud’: Canada Basketball unveils senior men’s camp roster
Date: May 27, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I looked at Canada’s camp roster for men’s Olympic basketball qualifiers and what they’ll be looking for from the group to finally earn an Olympic berth. Read an excerpt!

Title: Should the Raptors trade one of their draft picks? What could they get in return?
Date: May 26, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I took a look at the Raptors options if they wanted to trade their lottery pick or second rounders, and what recent precedent says about the possible return. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors free agency primer: Cap sheet, assets, exceptions and the big picture
Date: May 25, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote my annual free agency primer, exploring the Raptors decisions, options, and exceptions under the salary cap. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors most-likely-to-stay list: Who’s sticking around and who’s on the move?
Date: May 24, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I did my annual index of the Raptors likeliest to stay or leave with the help of some friends. Read an excerpt!

Title: Early draft strategy, free agency, trade targets and more: Raptors offseason mailbag Pt. 2
Date: May 22, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I opened up the mailbag to discuss Raptors draft strategy, free agent approach, trade possibilities, and more. Read an excerpt!

Title: Rigging the draft lottery, Masai Ujiri’s requests, Kyle Lowry and more: Raptors offseason mailbag Pt. 1
Date: May 21, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I opened up the mailbag to rig the lottery, discuss the futures of Masai Ujiri and Kyle Lowry, and more. Read an excerpt!

Title: The Athletic Raptors Q&A
Date: May 20, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: I hosted a live Raptors Q&A at The Athletic Toronto.
Read an excerpt!