What Rebuild - The plan was always to compete in 2025-2026

[anotherhomer]

I'm sure this was discussed in recent days, but don't quite understand why the media says this move contradicts the fact they are in a rebuild.

It sounds like the Raptors plan was to always suck for only this year, then aim to compete next year with whatever lotto prospect they picked up. They was based on what's been discussed:
- Michael Grange previously mentioned Raps would aim to compete in 2025-2026 season
- other media heads like Lou, Blake Murphy along with Grange mention ideally Raps may need to tank for 2 seasons, but Ujiri wouldn't had that leeway with his contract expiring, Ed Rogers (not liking Ujiri), and MLSE hurting ticket sales

I think other factors support that 2025-2026 will be more of a team compete season (aiming for .500 season)
- a sudden buyer market where really good players are available for low price (Fox, Luka, Butler) meant BI was available
- if you watch the games, there's a clear need for a half-court scorer , and a clear hole at the 3 spot (RJ is a 2, and Barnes is a 4). BI fills this role very well, but at the same time can still play-make and play some D
- Raps hit on the youngsters and have a good team to compete now:
IQ/RJ/BI/Barnes/Jakob plus Shead, Jakobe Walter, Dick, Mgobo and the lotto pick along with end of bench like Battle

i'm excited about the 2025-2026 season honestly. Raps did a masterful job, and may had ended up ultimately getting more for Pascal compared to OG

[Duffman100]

For their plan they've done a great job. We have a good SL and a deep bench. Adding a high 2025 pick is the cherry on top (hopefully we get lucky). Just have to stay healthy... that'll be the challenge.

I do wonder who the next disgruntled superstar that we could target with our salaries. I do see a certain Serbian center on a team that is sort of in trouble in terms of contracts.

[Jerry Lucas]

Hard disagree, but I'm also not saying they are going to be against winning games next season if it falls into place that way. I am going to repost what I said in another thread:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=117030553#p117030553

A lot of posters are reading way too much into the Ingram trade, when it was simply Masai extracting asset value (he clearly values Ingram as an asset way higher than Indy's 2026 FRP which means he clearly doesn't think Indy is going to implode and convey a high pick to the Pels). Assuming Indy does well in the regular season next year Masai basically traded a poo poo platter for Ingram.

2026 IMO is still shaping up to be another "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season. I don't really care what the local media that doesn't really know anything (and we all know it) says. The org messaging that I keep referring to has come straight from the mouths of key org people like Masai and Darko themselves (in interviews/training camp address/etc).

Now with that being said (and I've said this before in previous posts I've made related to this subject), "asset building and accumulation" being priority #1 does not automatically equate to tanking. When winning is not the top priority of an organization, losing usually follows, but it isn't automatic. 2013-14 was also an "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season.

[YogurtProducer]

For their plan they've done a great job. We have a good SL and a deep bench. Adding a high 2025 pick is the cherry on top (hopefully we get lucky). Just have to stay healthy... that'll be the challenge.

I do wonder who the next disgruntled superstar that we could target with our salaries. I do see a certain Serbian center on a team that is sort of in trouble in terms of contracts.

Jokic would be wild But I also do wonder if it is even possibly to build a winne when he is making $59M a year as a 31 year old in 2 years

[YogurtProducer]

Hard disagree, but I'm also not saying they are going to be against winning games next season if it falls into place that way. I am going to repost what I said in another thread:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=117030553#p117030553

A lot of posters are reading way too much into the Ingram trade, when it was simply Masai extracting asset value (he clearly values Ingram as an asset way higher than Indy's 2026 FRP which means he clearly doesn't think Indy is going to implode and convey a high pick to the Pels). Assuming Indy does well in the regular season next year Masai basically traded a poo poo platter for Ingram.

2026 IMO is still shaping up to be another "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season. I don't really care what the local media that doesn't really know anything (and we all know it) says. The org messaging that I keep referring to has come straight from the mouths of key org people like Masai and Darko themselves (in interviews/training camp address/etc).

Now with that being said (and I've said this before in previous posts I've made related to this subject), "asset building and accumulation" being priority #1 does not automatically equate to tanking. When winning is not the top priority of an organization, losing usually follows, but it isn't automatic. 2013-14 was also an "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season.

Masai is always going to be an asset accumulation guy IMO. It is what he does best and he did that from 2013 to 2018 as well making moves like trading away Vasquez for multiple picks, or Salmons for Bebe/Lou Will, etc. He only really stopped to cash in on Kawhi/Gasol, and then with the cupboard bare tried a last hurrah with the Poeltl trade.

Other than that, he has never really made win now moves. Ross and a late 1st for Ibaka and 2nds for PJ Tucker is probably as close as we got to that pre-Kawhi, and it still took years of losing to do that.

[TheRaptor!]

For their plan they've done a great job. We have a good SL and a deep bench. Adding a high 2025 pick is the cherry on top (hopefully we get lucky). Just have to stay healthy... that'll be the challenge.

I do wonder who the next disgruntled superstar that we could target with our salaries. I do see a certain Serbian center on a team that is sort of in trouble in terms of contracts.

If it aint Jakob I would prefer a shot blocking lob threat center

With that said, I think the move is to upgrade either Quickly or RJ to a star/ superstar level guy with our 2026 and 2028 pick. Imagine Giannis or Booker for example.

Or simply Quickly + Dick + 2026 for Trae Young for example.

I also expect our Lottery pick this year to be a starting level player at the very least.

[mtcan]

This was never meant as a multi-year tank...not with the personnel on the roster and the money they are being paid.

[anotherhomer]

i agree Raps will continue to build and accumulate assets, but their priority will shift from prioritizing development to competing next year. that means, they continue to give youngsters a chance to contribute and some playing time, but not at the expense of losing

that means, youngsters will no longer get unlimited reps that leads to losing, or in Scottie's case, let's take 20 jumpers a game....it will be to ensure raps get at least 41 wins, and to be winning

Hard disagree, but I'm also not saying they are going to be against winning games next season if it falls into place that way. I am going to repost what I said in another thread:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=117030553#p117030553

A lot of posters are reading way too much into the Ingram trade, when it was simply Masai extracting asset value (he clearly values Ingram as an asset way higher than Indy's 2026 FRP which means he clearly doesn't think Indy is going to implode and convey a high pick to the Pels). Assuming Indy does well in the regular season next year Masai basically traded a poo poo platter for Ingram.

2026 IMO is still shaping up to be another "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season. I don't really care what the local media that doesn't really know anything (and we all know it) says. The org messaging that I keep referring to has come straight from the mouths of key org people like Masai and Darko themselves (in interviews/training camp address/etc).

Now with that being said (and I've said this before in previous posts I've made related to this subject), "asset building and accumulation" being priority #1 does not automatically equate to tanking. When winning is not the top priority of an organization, losing usually follows, but it isn't automatic. 2013-14 was also an "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season.

[Jerry Lucas]

Hard disagree, but I'm also not saying they are going to be against winning games next season if it falls into place that way. I am going to repost what I said in another thread:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=117030553#p117030553

A lot of posters are reading way too much into the Ingram trade, when it was simply Masai extracting asset value (he clearly values Ingram as an asset way higher than Indy's 2026 FRP which means he clearly doesn't think Indy is going to implode and convey a high pick to the Pels). Assuming Indy does well in the regular season next year Masai basically traded a poo poo platter for Ingram.

2026 IMO is still shaping up to be another "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season. I don't really care what the local media that doesn't really know anything (and we all know it) says. The org messaging that I keep referring to has come straight from the mouths of key org people like Masai and Darko themselves (in interviews/training camp address/etc).

Now with that being said (and I've said this before in previous posts I've made related to this subject), "asset building and accumulation" being priority #1 does not automatically equate to tanking. When winning is not the top priority of an organization, losing usually follows, but it isn't automatic. 2013-14 was also an "asset building and accumulation is priority #1" season.

Masai is always going to be an asset accumulation guy IMO. It is what he does best and he did that from 2013 to 2018 as well making moves like trading away Vasquez for multiple picks, or Salmons for Bebe/Lou Will, etc. He only really stopped to cash in on Kawhi/Gasol, and then with the cupboard bare tried a last hurrah with the Poeltl trade.

Other than that, he has never really made win now moves. Ross and a late 1st for Ibaka and 2nds for PJ Tucker is probably as close as we got to that pre-Kawhi, and it still took years of losing to do that.

Exactly. The bolded parts of your reply are basically what I meant. No win-now moves will be made next season that would deplete the asset cupboard. Win or lose it's going to be another asset building and accumulation season.

An example of what I mean when I try to distinguish the 2 modes is:
-A win-now team works to assemble the best team they possible can under the restraints of 15 roster spots and 3 two-ways.
-An asset building and accumulation team is not as concerned about team fit, and is looking to stack as many valued player assets as they can under the roster restraints (and draft assets of course but there aren't really restraints to stacking picks).

[tecumseh18]

Darko is on record last summer talking about the strength of the 2026 draft, and the rebuilding process. But as always with sports decisions, it depends. If we didn't come up with a solid bench in the last two drafts then I think the plan was to try to stretch the losing out for yet another season. But with the likelihood of a top 6 pick in a strong draft, managing to get an alpha scorer for pennies on the dollar, and even unheralded guys like Walter and Shead showing out, I think we'll be doing everything to instill a winning culture in 2025-26. Darko might even save his challenges until the 4th quarter, and not play Poeltl when the game is down to free throws or we need a 3.

But you can't win without defence. IQ and Shead need to learn to defend the point of attack the way Davion did. If the middle of the 2026 draft can yield us another OG-type, then we're laughing.

It's usually me glazing Masai, but man, this rebuilding team is so much more exciting than 15 years ago, when Ed Davis was our exciting prospect. Obviously the talent in the league has levelled up, but you can't even compare the P-Patt era Raps - a winning team in it's own right - to this team.

[anotherhomer]

For their plan they've done a great job. We have a good SL and a deep bench. Adding a high 2025 pick is the cherry on top (hopefully we get lucky). Just have to stay healthy... that'll be the challenge.

I do wonder who the next disgruntled superstar that we could target with our salaries. I do see a certain Serbian center on a team that is sort of in trouble in terms of contracts.

i think getting BI is great as like you said, a 2025 pick is just cherry on top versus all of us getting super nervous missing out on Ace Bailey, Edgecombe, Flagg, looking for that bucket getter in the draft

I don't think Jokic is available but if we do get lucky, ya i can see that happening

[tsherkin]

For their plan they've done a great job. We have a good SL and a deep bench. Adding a high 2025 pick is the cherry on top (hopefully we get lucky). Just have to stay healthy... that'll be the challenge.

I do wonder who the next disgruntled superstar that we could target with our salaries. I do see a certain Serbian center on a team that is sort of in trouble in terms of contracts.

Jokic would be wild But I also do wonder if it is even possibly to build a winne when he is making $59M a year as a 31 year old in 2 years

I'd be willing to try... xD

[DelAbbot]

2021 was not a rebuild - it was a retool

2024 is not a rebuild - it is a retool

I guess Masai was being honest, he doesn't rebuild. He only retools.

[Potential]

It's important to start building a winning culture which is what is going to happen starting next season. It would be a lot better if we can get Flagg or Harper. Then once we inevitably make that trade for a superstar we'll be ready to compete.

PG
Ant
Flagg
Scottie
C

[Spida888]

Masai has never really rebuilt from ground up, so wasn't really expecting years of tanking to begin with. MSLE may not want to either.

Honestly, the injuries at the beginning of the season is a blessing in disguise. I'm not confident that if that didn't happen organically that we would sit out vets in order to target a top 5 pick. We probably would be gunning for the play-in and the narrative would be that it builds winning culture and the experience would be invaluable to the rookies/sophomores.

The move for Ingram, I totally get why they did it, and don't really blame them. Once the expiring contracts were gone, we don't have expendable contracts to trade, and this was a relatively buy low opportunity. My only complaint (for now) is that the 2026 Indy pick wasn't like top 10 protected. May be that was part of the negotiations and Pels rejected that.

[niQ]

If we hit on some lottery luck then yes, next season's team will be much more competitive.

Starters are essentially set at IQ, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes, Poeltl. And now we finally have some depth with Shead, Gradey, JaKobe, and Mogbo. Hopefully our 2025 draft pick will be a good one.

[Jtoneller1]

I think the next move is Lamelo...basically a perfect fit with Scottie. We are in prime position for a move like this next year.

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[brownbobcat]

You can't just decide to be good, you need the talent.

Does this core have what it takes? There are still huge questions around IQ, RJ, Dick and even Barnes honestly. Unless they land Flagg, any rookie they draft is very unlikely to contribute meaningfully next year - more like 2027-2028.

There's a big difference between hope and expectation.

I expect Wemby is going to take another leap forward and become at least All NBA 2nd team next year.
I hope Barnes can improve his jumper and become a top-20 player.

If 2/4 of BBQD take a big jump, then I think this could be a 45-win team next year. If they stay the same or only improve marginally, I think it's sub-40 wins.

[mtcan]

I think the next move is Lamelo...basically a perfect fit with Scottie. We are in prime position for a move like this next year.

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If we end up with Flagg/Harper/Bailey...we will definitely need to consolidate to make room for one of those guys. Package RJ/Quick/Jakobe and a pick or two for Devin Booker. I think Book will be available when the Suns trade KD and look to a more sustainable plan.

[Brinbe]

I think the goal was always 2026 and beyond.

They'll take steps forward next year but it's the year after that I think we'll really look to make noise.