As there were two Game 7s in the NBA Conference Finals for the first time since 1979, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors were hoping to still be playing.
Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history, the Raptors were swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals. Falling short to the Cavaliers for the third consecutive season, the Raptors are faced with a dilemma.
After firing head coach Dwane Casey who was recently named the 2017-18 NBA Coach of the Year, Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri must decide on building around the team’s core or making significant changes.