Raptors commit to continuity and mediocrity in offseason

Fred VanVleet signed with the Houston Rockets this weekend, another All-Star that left Toronto in the last few year for no compensation. VanVleet joins Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Kawhi Leonard as Raptors who have left Toronto for little or nothing in return.

While the Raptors acquired Leonard as a one-year rental and then won it all, the other players were a different story. Both Gasol and big man Serge Ibaka left in the summer of 2020, with Ibaka reportedly leaving because Toronto prioritized Gasol over him.

Lowry left in a sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat in 2021, where Toronto added Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic, who played only five games for the Raptors. As with VanVleet, Toronto refused to trade their point guard during the season, when they could have gotten picks, players or trade assets back.

But it’s not as if Toronto is rebuilding either! They made two big signings, bringing back center Jakob Poeltl and adding point guard Dennis Schroder.

Schroder got two years and $26M, a year after he was nearly out of the league, signing a minimum contract with the Lakers late in the off-season. Toronto also wants to re-sign Gary Trent Jr, and rebuffed a Portland trade request for OG Anunoby.

Toronto was a play-in team last season, and without VanVleet, it feels like they’re a play-in team at best once again. They’re committing significant resources to keeping their team together — but that team just isn’t very good.