There are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about Toronto this year.
The Raptors are likely to improve from last season’s struggles when injuries plagued a roster that underwent significant changes mid-season. Scottie Barnes missed the last quarter of his breakout year, and Jakob Poeltl also sat out. Even new additions like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were sidelined at times. The underlying stats suggest the Raptors could be much better this year, possibly exceeding their previous 25-57 record. It seems the Raptors intend to compete this season, as they haven’t moved on from their veterans and have retained Bruce Brown Jr. heading into the season.
However, there are compelling reasons why the Toronto Raptors might consider pulling the plug on this season earlier than expected.
What if Toronto starts slowly?
Typically, NBA teams consider “pulling the plug” toward the end of a season. When a team is out of the playoff race and wants to improve its draft lottery odds, they begin resting veterans and giving more minutes to younger or fringe players. The Raptors did this unofficially last season once their campaign unraveled. But what if they didn’t wait until late in the season? If the Raptors start slowly, they might decide to shift their focus away from making the playoffs — and make that decision as early as December, not March.
On one hand, this seems like a radical idea. The Raptors have a young All-Star in Scottie Barnes, two talented offensive players in Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, and a seasoned center in Jakob Poeltl. This group is capable of winning a lot of games and could make a run at the Play-In Tournament this season.
It seems unthinkable to give up on the entire season just two months in, right? Maybe. If the Raptors prioritize short-term success, this team is good enough to win some games. But if they take a long-term approach, there are plenty of reasons not to prolong mediocrity. Here’s why the Raptors should consider pulling the plug
The 2025 NBA Draft is shaping up to be an outstanding one. After a lack of star talent at the top of the 2024 Draft, next year’s class looks stacked with potential stars. At least five to eight players in the 2025 draft class could have gone No. 1 this year. Cooper Flagg appears to be the top prospect, but names like Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Nolan Traore, and Rocco Zikarsky are also elite talents.
The Raptors could benefit from adding another key player to their core, as they likely won’t find a star in free agency given their salary situation — and stars don’t typically flock to Toronto in free agency. Even in an ideal scenario with Barnes and Quickley developing well, the Raptors need another two-way star. However, winning sporadically throughout the season might place the Raptors too high in the standings to have a realistic shot at a top prospect. After losing the No. 8 pick due to the Jakob Poeltl trade, landing a solid pick in 2025 would be crucial. To do that, they’ll need to outmaneuver several other rebuilding teams in the Eastern Conference, including the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls.
Another reason to move early is that being the first team to sell veterans to contenders can be advantageous. The Raptors can capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding other available players and ensure that landing spots don’t disappear before they can trade players like Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, or even Jakob Poeltl.
Lastly, the Raptors have a notably easy schedule toward the end of the season, which isn’t lost on the organization. If they hold on too long, the temptation of a late-season run and a potential postseason berth might lure the team into pushing for a short-term goal rather than focusing on the smarter, long-term plan of building a team ready to win big in the future. Being out of contention before the final stretch could be crucial. This is just one possible strategy for the season. There are benefits to remaining competitive, and perhaps the team starts strong and proves they’re too good to wait another year. However, if the Raptors fall behind early, being the first to pull the plug could position them for future success.