The Toronto Raptors’ challenges this season were myriad. When the team limped to a 2-10 start, every game seemed to present a new set of problems. Some were solved temporarily, others sprung up as the season progressed. Even as the team steadied and had a brief turnaround, one of the problems remained and just would not go away. The Raptors simply did not have a dependable centre.
With its sights aiming clearly at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2021 free agency, the front office couldn’t find a way to keep veteran big men Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka on the team and risk losing that once all-important financial flexibility.