TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 18: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors brings the ball up during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Amalie Arena on January 18, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Toronto Raptors seemed like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference when they brought together stars like Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, and Serge Ibaka on the floor together. However, this team is known to sacrifice its best stars by concentrating on the future. This is just why NBA Analyst; Tim Bontemps called the Raptors out.
The spoken-off analyst highlighted how the Raptors gave away Kawhi Leonard just after the team clinched the NBA Championship by focusing on their future. Perhaps just the reason why they are struggling to make an impact to date.
Tim Bontemps said on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective, “Here’s the other thing you have to factor in with the Raptors too. Over the past few years — obviously they won a title with Kawhi. Obviously that’s one of the great trades in the history of the league with the way that worked out — but, Kawhi Leonard leaves for nothing. Marc Gasol leaves for nothing. Serge Ibaka leaves for nothing. Kyle Lowry leaves for ultimately what became Precious Achiuwa. Those four guys have become Precious Achiuwa. That’s part of the reason why the Raptors are in the spot they’re in right now.”
While the deal for Kawhi Leonard was basically a one-year rental deal for the Raptors, they even gave away prominent figures like Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry. In such a case this team should have tried to trade stars like Marc Gasol to get the best value but they only managed to lose them for nothing.
Bontemps added, “I don’t think they can afford to have guys walk out the door for free again based on the amount of talent drain they’ve had.”
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