NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Toronto Raptors have a new head coach in Darko Rajakovic who was previously with the Memphis Grizzlies. Rajakovic is known to be able to develop players. Rajakovic has been coaching in Europe and in the NBA since 1996. He was introduced today to the Toronto media.
“To join and to lead an elite organization like the Raptors is what I have been working for my entire professional life,” Rajakovic said in a release. “This is an amazing opportunity, to join a franchise with a supportive ownership group, fantastic front office and fanbase, and elite players.”
The Toronto Raptors went with a different choice than many had assumed they would earlier in selecting Rajakovic to become the 10th head coach in the franchise’s history. It also means that Masai Ujuri and GM Bobby Webster are ready to move on from the likes of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. We shall see what happens from today until the NBA draft what transpires.
Fred Van Vleet
The star point guard was the first player to announce he has decided not to exercise his 22.8 million dollar player option for the 2023/2024 season. Van Vleet instead becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 6th. I always liked Fred Van Vleet, especially as an undrafted player who has made more cash than any other undrafted NBA player ever has. My only issue with Van Vleet as a Toronto Raptor was he lacks the finish of his prior mento in the league Kyle Lowry. Van Vleet will be gone and what happens with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby means the “core” group of players likely changes. The Toronto Raptors will become the team led by Scottie Barnes.
Pascal Siakam’s name has been bandied about by many as a top twenty talent in the league yet he has detractors all over the place. The same applies to OG Anunoby. It will be interesting to see where the Toronto Raptors go with both of those players. The other “free agent” of note Gary Trent Jr appears to be staying put for now. He has said in the past he loves Toronto and the fans especially.
My Trade Ideas
Pascal Siakam goes to the Portland Trail Blazers for the 3rd overall pick and the Raptors also get Shaedon Sharpe the young Canadian shooting guard who impressed as the 2022-2023 season went along.
OG Anunoby goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder who have a ton of draft picks or possibly to Drako Rajakovic’s former team the Memphis Grizzlies.
Whichever moves the Toronto Raptors make means they are moving along from their core four guys and new head coach Darko Rajakovic will have his own guys in town.
Keep an eye out here for all the Toronto Raptors make here at teamnbsmedia.com where I will call the moves they decide upon between now and the NBA Draft.
Congratulations Denver
As I called it to happen since the minute the NBA voters said Joel Embid won the regular season MVP trophy, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Title, and deservedly so. It was sweet to be absolutely correct that the Nuggets won in five games as I predicted on Twitter Spaces. Congratulations go out Keith Richards our intrepid Nuggets beat writer as well.
