So much feels the same as we head into another Toronto Raptors season, but in another way, everything is different. It’s the little things, like how, for the first time in over a decade, the Toronto Raptors front
office was not represented on media day by Masai Ujiri. Instead, it was Bobby Webster, the newly minted General Manager AND Head of Basketball Operations, who stood atop the podium this time. Before you get confused, it wasn’t Raptors media day yet, which is next week, but Webster couldn’t make it, so he spoke on Friday afternoon.
Webster heads into the season as the new face of the team, and while he assured the media that the day-to-day of the Raptors hasn’t changed much in the absence of Ujiri, it’s a big year for the team. It’s time to determine if this core is as good as expected, or if the team needs to shift in a different direction to get back to winning ways. Always cool as a cucumber, Webster is confident in all aspects of this team — operations, roster, and coaching.
The “kid from Hawaii” as he described himself, casually sat atop the podium in the media room of the OVO Athletic Centre in his signature blue jacket, sipping water after apologizing for his tardiness — he had run a Terry Fox race this morning. After over a decade with the Raptors, Webster is used to the kind of questions the Toronto media asks him, and he responded to everything from roster choices to financial concerns and coaching confidence.
The Team’s Health
Health and wellness a hot topic in the NBA these days. An 82-game regular season, playoffs, and now an in-season tournament mean the year is gruelling for players. We saw three big injuries in the playoffs last season — Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum all suffered Achilles ruptures. The Raptors have had their own share of injuries over the past few seasons. Scottie Barnes has struggled with some wrist issues, Brandon Ingram’s ankle injury means he has yet to play for the team, and the list goes on.
The first question Webster answered addressed the team’s health: everyone on the roster is ready to go for training camp next week. Ingram has made progress and seems to be ready to go, and everyone who ended last season with an ailment spent the offseason recuperating.
When it comes to the long-term health of the team and preventing injury, Webster said with a laugh that “you’d become a billionaire” if you learned how to prevent injury. As for trying, he says the team has extensive discussions in the offseason about keeping players healthy going into the season. The team is well known for its league-wide reputation of having great health and recovery systems, something they are proud of.
While it’s impossible to predict and prevent injuries, they do what they can. Going into the season with a clean slate helps.
The Core Roster
It’s a big year for the team, especially the core. After getting Brandon Ingram, the fact that Barnes is going into his fifth NBA season, and RJ Barrett’s looming contract extension eligibility, a lot is riding on this season. Will this core be good enough to invest in? Or is the competition league-wide too much, and it’s time to shake it up (again).
Webster says he spoke to Scottie Barnes this week about the upcoming season. Topics in their chat included continuing his leadership development, making sure he is an elite defender, and integrating Ingram into the system. Webster is proud of Barnes’s leadership, saying he’s “grown up” in the past year, especially after the birth of his first child. As Webster said, “that kind of stuff forces you to grow up.”
They have the potential to be pretty good, too. The Eastern Conference is weak, especially with those aforementioned All-Star injuries affecting the East most. The Raptors have a path to a top-6 seed if this core plays well together. Yet, we haven’t seen them hit the court. It won’t take long to get a sense of their ceiling once the season starts, and Webster said that they are not afraid to change course if needed. They intend to be good.
Darko’s confidence is high
Obviously, one of the many microscopes on this team this year will be on Darko Rajakovic and his staff. We will talk to Darko next week at media day, but Webster has all the faith in his head coach. He mentioned Darko’s confidence in his own coaching ability, how much the players believe in him, and how Darko’s specific “win the day” style leads to long-term results with young players.
There is also a sense of being settled in. It’s Rajakovic’s third season as the team’s head coach. Not much personnel has changed in the offseason, both when it comes to players on his roster and his coaching staff. Everyone is comfortable in their roles, knows what their jobs are, and is ready to get to work. All of the team building over the past two years has been so that when this moment eventually came, this team was ready.
With the confidence of his players, general manager, and the “guys upstairs,” Darko has everything he needs to succeed this season. For the first time, it seems like his real coaching ability will be on display. No more “well they are tanking” or “injuries aren’t in his favour.” It’s time for him to show off his skills at a level he hasn’t had to before.
Yet, all that pressure is coming from the outside. On the inside, Webster has full confidence in Darko, saying there is “no pressure” on him.
Check out the X thread of Bobby’s availability below:
The rest of the team, plus Darko Rajakovic, will be available to speak at media day on Monday, September 29.
