Fresh off a disappointing post-season collapse that saw the Toronto Raptors swept out of the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Canadian club finds itself in yet another off-season of change as they look to re-tool.
It’s a position they’re all too familiar with, having suffered an eerily similar playoff exit in 2017 — a four-game sweep at the hands of the LeBron James’ squad, ending their run in Round 2.
According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the changes Toronto considered after that similar exit were drastic.
“Word is that the Raptors quietly explored their DeMar DeRozan trade options last summer — before they had any inkling that a breakout season was looming,” Stein wrote in a Q & A for The Times Tuesday, responding to a question about the Raptors’ best course of action following their latest playoff collapse.
DeRozan, of course, remained on the roster and played a pivotal role in leading Toronto to a franchise-best 59-win season, evolving as a playmaker and finding his long-range game.
That evolution didn’t extend to the team’s playoff run, however, leaving the Raptors brass mulling over significant changes once again — the first which already occurred in the firing of head coach Dwane Casey.
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