In an interview after winning the Gator Player of the Year Award, Andrew Wiggins (who many consider the best prospect in the world not in the NBA) expressed his desire to play for the Toronto Raptors. Ordinarily this would be a reason to gasp...but Wiggins is a Canadian and well, most kids grow up wanting to play for the home team. In the 18 years since their introduction to the NBA, the Toronto Raptors have essentially been door mats. They had a few moments of hope during the Vince Carter years, but could never string it together. They have gambled big: Marcus Camby, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Demar Derozan, but none of those players have delivered the team to the top of the league. So one would only assume that Toronto would be more than willing to stink up the joint right? Maybe not.
If you glance quickly the Raptors have a respectable roster, littered with some decent names and potential. They have Rudy Gay, who on any given night can deliver 30 point games when he is locked in. They have Demar Derozan and Kyle Lowry in the back court and if they can play great in a support role to Rudy Gay, this team has a chance at the lower seeds. The wild card in the bunch is Jonas Valanciunas. The third year big man from Lithuania has as much upside as any young center in the league and like Andre Drummond is on the verge of certain stardom. All of that young talent coupled with the recent hire of the Reigning Executive of the Year, Masai Ujiri and this team has a future.
So now you see the issue, they really might be too good to get as lucky as Chicago in 08 or Cleveland in 03 (Chicago drafted Derrick Rose in 2008 and Clevend drafted LeBron James in 2003). There is a chance though, say things don't start off the way they want and by January the season is starting to look like a lost cause. FIRE SALE!!!! Trade Gay, Derozan and Lowry, but keep Jonas because a big man is hard to find. Drop the majority of the remaining games and position yourself for the savior of Canadian basketball and potentially the best talent since LeBron. As of right now, they will likely draft in the mid teens, but if they swallow their pride and endure another losing season they can turn the franchise around completely.
As it stands Boston, Philly, Phoenix and Charlotte are guaranteed to be in the mix for the top pick. All of those teams have already positioned themselves in the "Riggin for Wiggins" sweepstakes and understand what he brings to the table. All four teams pawned off major players for a shot at "worst team of the year" with the understanding that the payoff will be huge. Worst case scenario they end up with Marcus Smart, Jabari Parker or Julius Randle; all great consolation prizes. Lets not kid ourselves though, LeBron was the clear choice in 2003 and Wiggins is the clear choice in 2014.
What would I do? TANK!!!!! I would sell off everything. I would do it for young talent and draft picks, like Boston is doing. Several teams are in need of wing scoring and Toronto has two players that pack a punch in Gay and Derozan. Some times you have to suck really bad, to become really good. Just look at OKC and Golden State for proof.
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