As the new year begins, the Toronto Raptors are set to debut a revamped lineup on Monday night as they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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As the new year begins, the Toronto Raptors are set to debut a revamped lineup on Monday night as they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a trade on Saturday, the Raptors exchanged OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round draft pick from the New York Knicks.
Later on Saturday, the Raptors garnered attention not just for their trade but also for a 129-127 defeat on the road against the Detroit Pistons, who had endured a 28-game losing streak to equal an NBA record. The impact of the trade was evident as Toronto’s roster faced depletion.
After a 119-111 home defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, the Cavaliers faced a game where they once held a 15-point lead. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam took the lead for the Raptors on Saturday with 35 points, yet they suffered their fifth loss in six games. Dennis Schroder contributed 30 points and nine assists. During these weeks, trade rumors had been circulating around the team.
For the Raptors, Koloko (illness) and Temple (ankle injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Cavaliers, Garland (broken jawbone), Jerome (ankle injury), Mobley (knee injury), and Rubio (personal reasons) will be sitting this one out.
Despite Siakam’s impressive performance, it proved insufficient against the Pistons. The Pistons, who already held the record for the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history, were aiming to surpass the 28 consecutive losses that the Philadelphia 76ers experienced over the course of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
In securing Barrett, the Raptors bring in a player hailing from the Toronto area, who also holds significance as a crucial member of Canada’s national team.
Yet, the pivotal element in this deal might be Quickley. Now in his fourth season, he has only started 27 games throughout his career, never averaging 29 minutes per game. Nevertheless, he has demonstrated an ability to generate offense.
In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell made a return to the Cavaliers’ lineup after a four-game absence due to illness. In an impactful comeback, he recorded 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in 36 minutes.
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