Sean Woodley here, the host of the daily Locked On Raptors podcast, with your daily Locked On Raptors newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Raptors and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Toxic Positivity Friday: How the Raptors can lean fully into 30th season nostalgia
Oct 25, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry (7) battle for position as they watch a free throw in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton/Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
As I covered last Friday, it’s a rare and special thing for a team to find itself perfectly situated at the meeting point of low expectations and maximum fun. Being there, as these Raptors are, grants you certain luxuries, particularly when it comes to personnel moves.
Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have done their tear-down. The future is secured, as much as it can be in the ever-fluid NBA. Sure, there are a couple guys who will likely find themselves on new teams by mid-February, though the collective return for the Bruce Browns, Chris Bouchers and Davion Mitchells of the world isn’t likely to be a notable haul.
In fact, the highest value item the Raptors could chase on the trade front this season isn’t some middling draft pick, but rather, a rush of nostalgic feelings. If a 30th-anniversary season full of Guy Remembering, development and vibes isn’t the time to go all-in on the bit, I don’t know what is.
The Toronto Raptors should trade for Kyle Lowry.
The stars are aligned. Lowry, the greatest Raptor to ever live, is nearing the end of his storied career. Four months out from his 39th birthday, time seems to be catching up with this most unlikely of 19-year pros. His Sixers are languishing below Toronto in the standings, while his own play, dropping off sharply after a hot spurt to start the year, has rendered him an undressed DNP-CD for four-straight games. Even his attire suggests he understands the end is closing in.
For Philly, a team trying and failing to crawl out of an injury and roster build-induced chasm, Lowry probably isn’t part of the solution. But for these Raptors, pledged to infusing their youthful core with wisdom and know-how in the midst of a year-long celebration of the franchise’s history, he’d be a perfect add, down to the last note.
There’s precedent for this type of thing; rousing, tear-jerking precedent. Back at the 2015 trade deadline, the 16-win Minnesota Timberwolves dipped into their own sentimentality bag, striking a deal with the Brooklyn Nets to bring the GTWOAT, Kevin Garnett, back to Minneapolis to sagely guide Andrew Wiggins (and eventually Karl-Anthony Towns) through the dawn of their careers as the sun set on his own.
A similar moment is there for the Raptors, should they want it, and it could cost them nothing but some light paperwork. Unless its pure “been there before” experience a contender is after, Lowry isn’t likely to be the apple of many team’s eyes at this year’s deadline. Nor does it feel like he’s got the legs to help power a Sixers resurgence. If Toronto called up Daryl Morey, you’d think it could be pretty easy to iron something out, even within the league’s trade-restrictive new CBA. Not even Morey and Ujiri, famously hard bargainers, could resist the charm of a Lowry homecoming, could they?
After December 15th, a direct salary matching Bruno Fernando for Lowry swap, for example, is very much legal, and seemingly a no-lose proposition for either side. Lowry, who’s on record with his desire to retire a Raptor in some capacity, returns to the franchise he legitimized, while the Sixers add a modest bit of big man insurance — a thing I hear they often need.
Poetic, tidy swan songs are rare in the cutthroat world of pro sports. Typically, once your utility as a player wanes, so do your prospects of hanging onto a roster spot. These Raptors can, of course, afford to hand some minutes to an aging icon this season. Winning isn’t the priority, and as we’ve seen play out with Garrett Temple, this is a front office and coaching staff that has no problem devoting roster space to intangibles.
In some cases, clinging to visions of the past is the definition of toxic. In the case of Lowry, granting him a chance to guide the next generation of Raptors as his own career clock wins down would be the joyous, romantic end he’s always deserved.
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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Katie Heindl of this very newsletter for the audio edition of TPF, where we talk about Bruce Brown’s nearing return, rookie optimism and yes, trading for Kyle Lowry. Enjoy the show, and have a great weekend!
Nov 27, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a call against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel/Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards went off on Wednesday night, and it wasn’t in the game.
The Timberwolves star had a lot of frustration to share after Minnesota lost to the Kings, and tallied their fourth straight loss in a row.
“We thought defense was our identity, and it’s not looking like that,” Edwards said in the locker room. “Our identity right now, me and Mike [Conley] was talking about it, I think is we soft as hell as a team, internally. Not to the other team, but like internally we soft, like we can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids, just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Like everybody, like the whole team, we just can’t talk to each other and we gotta figure it out, man, because we can’t go down this road.”
He spoke at length, not holding much back, but the most interesting flag came in Edwards comments about the team as a whole. He noted that everyone on the team had their “own agenda”, which made it particularly difficult for him, as the de facto leader, to get them on the same page. Wolves beat reporter for the Star Tribune, Chris Hine, said Edwards lamented the team was “growing apart”, partly because it felt so difficult to have honest conversations with teammates.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Biz Former Timberwolves GM and current president of Paris Basketball David Kahn predicts the NBA will be in Europe “within two years” (EuroHoops)
Feel Good The Raptors are praising emerging rookie sharpshooter Jamison Battle. His impressive performances have quickly garnered attention and support from both teammates and fans. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Raptors will face off against the Heat at Kaseya Center in the latest NBA Cup group stage matchup. Read the preview.(NBA)
LaMelo Ball Is Out On Friday - What Are The Fantasy Basketball Implications?
Nov 27, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe/Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
As we gear up for a packed NBA schedule, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the game with the latest injury updates and strategic streaming options. With ten games on the horizon, there’s plenty to consider for your fantasy basketball lineup.
Injury Updates and Streaming Strategies
The New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets face off in an early game, and the injury report has thrown a few curveballs. Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson are out for the Knicks, while the Hornets are missing key players like Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Miles Bridges. The unexpected absence of LaMelo Ball due to a calf issue adds another layer of complexity. With Ball sidelined, Vasa Micic becomes a prime streaming target, offering value for both Friday and Saturday games. Keep an eye on Jalen Brunson, who seems to be finding his rhythm again, which is a positive sign for fantasy managers.
On the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks front, Darius Garland’s recent dip in usage and shooting is worth monitoring. Meanwhile, Trae Young’s impressive assist numbers continue to shine, despite some Achilles concerns. For streaming, Ty Jerome is a viable option if Dean Wade and Caris LeVert remain out, while DeAndre Hunter offers potential upside for the Hawks.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Raptors podcasts.
Monday — Raptors fall to Rockets for 7th-straight loss, but the sky ain’t falling Sean goes solo to talk about the Raptors’ 114-110 loss to Houston, Scottie Barnes’ recent struggles and why they’re probably nothing to be too alarmed about, Ja’Kobe Walter’s career-high and more!
Dec 17 — Raptors comeback vs. Chicago falls short; Jakob Poeltl hurt Sean and Vivek Jacob recap the Toronto Raptors 122-121 loss to the Chicago Bulls, discuss what Jakob Poeltl’s injury means and more.
Dec 16 — Raptors Trade Season Primer! Sean is joined by Joseph Casciaro (The Score) to preview the NBA’s trade season from the Raptors perspective, from Jakob Poeltl being too important to trade, to what the Raptors can get for their pending free agents and more!
