5 Things to Know: Toronto Raptors’ 2024-25 season

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors footwear disconnected the 2024-25 play connected Wednesday nighttime erstwhile they big the Cleveland Cavaliers astatine Scotiabank Arena. Here are 5 things to cognize up of the Raptors’ location opener:

THREE DECADES — It’s the Raptors’ 30th day and the squad has plans to observe each season, including bringing backmost their purple jerseys from the mid-1990s. Toronto volition besides beryllium honouring erstwhile players, including Hall of Famer Vince Carter. He’ll beryllium the first-ever subordinate to person his Raptors jersey retired successful a ceremonial astatine Scotiabank Arena connected Nov. 2.

DEPTH CHART — The Raptors lacked extent to commencement past play with fundamentally 1 subordinate coming disconnected the seat — shooting defender Gary Trent Jr. — with then-rookie swingman Gradey Dick sometimes rotating successful too. That abbreviated seat was evident with a -4.4 nett standing implicit the season, tied with the San Antonio Spurs for third-worst successful the NBA. Net standing is an precocious stat that indicates however overmuch amended oregon worse a squad performs connected a per-possession basis.

However, a bid of trades and 4 draught picks remade the roster and greatly improved Toronto’s depth.

Point defender Davion Mitchell, powerfulness guardant Ochai Agbaji and centre Chris Boucher of Montreal volition pb the reserves to commencement the season. All 3 person superior NBA experience, averaging much than 17 minutes per crippled successful their careers. They’ll beryllium joined connected the 2nd portion by centre Kelly Olynyk (back) of Kamloops, B.C., and tiny guardant Bruce Brown (arthroscopic genu surgery) erstwhile they’re steadfast for a robust seasoned seat that tin grip large minutes. Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto’s 19th wide prime successful this past summer’s draft, volition presumably beryllium Dick’s backup astatine the two-guard erstwhile he’s recovered from a sprained shoulder.

COMMUTERS — Walter was the highest of Toronto’s 4 picks selected successful the 2024 NBA draught successful precocious June. Power guardant Jonathan Mogbo (31st), constituent defender Jamal Shead (45th) and centre Ulrich Chomche (57th) were besides selected. Although each 4 volition spot immoderate NBA minutes this play — particularly Shead, whose dogged defence was a item of the Raptors’ pre-season — they’ll besides beryllium regulars for the G-League’s Raptors 905 successful adjacent Mississauga, Ont.

IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT — The Raptors are successful Group B for the NBA’s second-annual in-season tournament. They’re grouped with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. Toronto’s alleged Cup Nights volition statesman Nov. 12 successful Milwaukee and proceed erstwhile the Raptors big Detroit connected Nov. 15. Their 3rd tourney crippled volition beryllium Nov. 29 successful Miami and past their radical signifier volition extremity Dec. 3 erstwhile Indiana visits Scotiabank Arena.

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Financial inducement has been added to the NBA Cup playoffs this season, with players connected the winning squad earning US$514,971 each, portion $205,988 goes to each subordinate connected the runner-up team. Players who mislaid successful the semis volition get $102,994 apiece and players that suffer successful the quarters volition get $51,497.

PORTER SENTENCING — Former Toronto backup centre Jontay Porter volition person look sentencing connected Dec. 18 aft helium pleaded blameworthy successful the summertime to a U.S. national conspiracy crime. Porter, 24, was banned from the NBA aft admitting that helium helped bettors by intentionally underperforming successful games. Prosecutors person estimated that helium could beryllium facing a scope from conscionable nether 3 1/2 years successful situation to a small implicit 4 years.

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Oct. 22, 2024.