The Toronto Raptors opted to stand out this season. But why would the Raps, a outfit, go?
Kyle Lowry obtained a market-rate contract of four years and $48 million, which assured pace-setter and the team’s leader will return. Once the ink was dry on this deal, the Raps knew they could sit and bank on growth last February from the likes of DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas having made his first All-Star Game.
Stable though the Raptors are, there is still some intrigue on the roster. Virtual unknown Bruno Caboclo has been the surprise choice of Toronto, and nobody’s quite certain how good the 19-year-old Brazilian might become.
Lucas”Bebe” Nogueira, 22, joined the Raps via trade in June, and he’s another potential-packed potential. Although he’s not close to being a significant contributor on the ground, Nogueira is tackling the adjustment to his team in stride, based on Eric Koreen of the National Post:”Regardless, you get the feeling that if Nogueira was in the center of Siberia without a fall of Russian in his repertoire, he’d still be smiling, laughing and just generally being loud.”
In sum, the Raptors did a wonderful job of maintaining a status quo whilst injecting enough exciting potential to get some upside down.
And no, I can’t explain why their chances are low as the Knicks’.
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