Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are taking steps to be more fan-inclusive with the unveiling of their officially branded sports hijabs. 

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the organization that owns the Raptors, revealed the hijabs in a Twitter video Saturday:

Inspired by those brave enough to change the game.

The Toronto Raptors Nike Pro Hijab is available now.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/D1fY1mWGhy

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 13, 2019

Jerry Ferguson, senior director of marketing at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, told Ted Fraser of the Toronto Star they began developing them following the NBA playoffs. 

Hijabs are headscarves worn by some Muslim women that typically cover their head and chest but leave the face uncovered.

The inspiration behind the hijabs came from a May 2019 story in the Toronto Star by Evelyn Kwong and Sahar Fatima about the Hijabi Ballers, a group of Muslim women in the Toronto area who get together to play basketball each Sunday and advocate for Muslim women to take part in sports. 

"Hijab is not a preventative piece of cloth," Shireen Ahmed, a member of the Hijabi Ballers advisory board, told Kwong and Fatima. "Women play any sport you can imagine from basketball to surfing to table tennis to soccer to beach volleyball to para-bocce ball. Wearing hijab is an extremely personal decision. And one that shouldn't affect an athlete's ability or right to partake in sport."

Speaking to the Canadian press (via the Associated Press), Ferguson said the Raptors were interested in "finding ways to bring products and ideas to market" to prove their dedication to being an inclusive organization that supports fans of all faiths. 

Nike began selling athletic hijabs in 2017 with the goal of making sure athletes of all faiths were able to participate in sports using a specially designed piece of headwear that allowed them to perform. 

The Toronto Raptors have added Brittni Donaldson to the bench as an assistant coach, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.

She had spent the past two seasons in the front office as a data analyst but will now become the 10th female assistant in the NBA.

The 26-year-old played college ball at the University of Northern Iowa before moving to the sidelines.

"Losing someone so smart [from the front office] is tough," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said of Donaldson. "But she has coaching in her DNA."

She worked hands on with players at practice over the past season and is looking forward to having more of a direct role with the team.

"The strategy and the Xs and Os—that is where it's at for me," Donaldson said.

Head coach Nick Nurse explained her role will be similar to other assistant coaches, scouting opponents while helping with strategy, but she will also take a lead in translating analytic data to players and coaches, per Lowe.

Blake Murphy of The Athletic highlighted her value to the team:

This is great. Brittni is incredibly smart and was already working directly with players a lot. Important to have extension of analytics department in versatile connector role. https://t.co/xjMKM5lWLJ

— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) September 7, 2019

According to the Canadian Press, Fab Flournoy and Mark Tyndale were also hired as assistants this offseason, while Eric Khoury will move to the Raptors 905 in the G League.

For the first time in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors will start a season as the defending NBA champions.  

The 2019-20 Raptors won't look much different on paper than the group that defeated the Golden State Warriors in June, with one major exception. 

Kawhi Leonard rode out of town with his NBA Finals MVP trophy, opting to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent. Danny Green also departed for Los Angeles over the summer to join the Lakers. 

Repeating as champions will be an uphill battle for Toronto, but president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has proved he isn't afraid to take big swings if he believes it's in the best interest of his team. 

The Raptors will begin their quest for a second title on Oct. 22 against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

2019-20 Season Details

Season Opener: Oct. 22 vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Championship Odds: 50-1 (via Caesars)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

     

Top Matchups

Los Angeles Clippers (First Home Game: Dec. 11)

All eyes will be on Toronto when Leonard makes his return to the team he led to a championship last summer. 

When Leonard was first acquired by the Raptors in July 2018, it seemed like a powderkeg that could explode at any moment. Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported at the time the three-time All-Star had "no interest" in playing in Toronto and at least considered sitting out the entire season. 

Things ultimately worked out between the two sides, as the Raptors acquisition of Leonard and Green can only be considered a success forever because of the final result. 

The ripple effect of Leonard's decision to sign with the Clippers could significantly impact what happens with Toronto this season. Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet are entering the final season of their contracts. 

Despite speculation Ujiri was considering a full-scale rebuild after Leonard left, TSN.ca's Josh Lewenberg reported in July the Raptors weren't going to deal Lowry, Gasol or Ibaka before the season starts. 

"Like he did with previous Raptors teams, Ujiri will give this group an opportunity to sink or swim before choosing a path and deciding what comes next," Lewenberg wrote. 

Before potentially turning the page on the previous era of Raptors basketball, Leonard's return to Toronto as a member of the Clippers gives the fans and his former teammates one more opportunity to remember what they accomplished in 2018-19. 

The crowd at Scotiabank Arena has a chance to give Leonard a nice ovation, or they could choose to greet him with a chorus of boos for unceremoniously departing. The former would be appropriate⁠—not to mention, a much better look⁠—but sports fans aren't always known for their decorum if they feel they've been spurned. 

       

Philadelphia 76ers (First Home Game: Nov. 25)

After the Raptors lost their best player during the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers spent their summer loading up for a run at the NBA Finals. 

If not for Leonard's heroics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Philadelphia could have been raising a banner to start this season. 

Like Toronto, the Sixers also lost their most important postseason player when Jimmy Butler joined the Miami Heat. They also let JJ Redick leave as a free agent, but general manager Elton Brand had a few tricks up his sleeve. 

Philadelphia added Josh Richardson from the Heat as part of the sign-and-trade for Butler. The big free-agent splash was Al Horford, who gives Brett Brown the option of playing alongside Joel Embiid in the starting lineup or stagger minutes between the two big men. 

Thanks to the moves made by the Sixers, they are neck and neck with the Milwaukee Bucks as favorites to win the Eastern Conference.

The Raptors, on the other hand, are a distant seventh:

Pick your finals matchup 🏆

(Odds via @CaesarsPalace) pic.twitter.com/3ypABr24ot

— br_betting (@br_betting) July 17, 2019

The Atlantic Division has been controlled by Toronto for most the decade, with five first-place finishes in the past six seasons. The Sixers have just one division title in the previous 29 seasons (2000-01). 

Toronto still boasts a deep roster with Lowry, Ibaka, Gasol, VanVleet and Pascal Siakam making a formidable quintet. 

If the Raptors want to maintain their status as a top-tier Eastern Conference contender, sending a message to a 76ers team with high expectations is the easiest way to pull it off. 

       

Prediction

The Raptors have been one of the most consistent teams in the NBA since the 2015-16 campaign. Their current streak of four straight 50-win seasons is the second-longest active streak, behind the Golden State Warriors (six).

Even without a true superstar in the fold, head coach Nick Nurse has a strong top seven to utilize. Siakam's development last season gives the Raptors a new building block who, at the age of 25, could continue to improve now that he will be a focal point. 

Another advantage the Raptors have is playing in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are at the top of the class, but there are question marks behind them. The Brooklyn Nets could take a step forward with Kyrie Irving on board, though their window likely opens next season when Kevin Durant returns. 

The Indiana Pacers expect to be without Victor Oladipo, who ruptured a quad tendon last January, until at least December. The Boston Celtics have tremendous upside if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown play closer to their 2017-18 form than what they showed last season. 

All of this is to say that Leonard's departure doesn't spell doom for the Raptors. They are still a quality playoff team, albeit one that may have a limited ceiling when they get there. 

Record Prediction: 48-34 

Kawhi Leonard's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers didn't impact the bond he and Kyle Lowry built as the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA championship.

Lowry told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix he messaged with Leonard throughout the offseason prior to Leonard making his final decision, and he understood why the 2019 Finals MVP chose the Clippers:

"[Leonard leaving] wasn't a surprise. I'm always happy for guys, especially one that help me do something fantastic. He's a friend of mine and a good guy. He made a decision to go home, I'm genuinely happy for him. He gets a chance to be around his family and friends, you have to respect the guy and be happy for him."

Aside from Leonard and Danny Green, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Raptors are basically rolling with last year's team as they look to defend their NBA title.

This time next summer, though, Toronto could look very different.

Lowry is an unrestricted free agent along with Serge Ibaka, Fred VanVleet and Marc Gasol. The five-time All-Star said he's open to stay north of the border: "I want to be there. I would love to do an extension, but we'll see what happens ... I would love to be there long term. We'll have the discussion when the time is right."

If recent history is any indicator, president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri will put sentiment aside when the time comes to either extend Lowry or let him leave as a free agent. Ujiri traded away a fan favorite in DeMar DeRozan in order to land Leonard, which worked out pretty well.

Rather than relying on the aging trio Lowry (33), Gasol (34) and Ibaka (29), Ujiri could look to use the Raptors' financial flexibility to build around VanVleet (25) and Pascal Siakam (25), who's a restricted free agent in 2020.

No matter what happens with Lowry, the 33-year-old has arguably cemented himself as the best player in franchise history.

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will be a free agent after the 2019-20 season, and he'll have a new agency representing him during that process. 

According to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, Lowry has hired Priority Sports' Mark Bartelstein to represent him. The agency confirmed that Lowry was joining its list of clients:

We are so excited to welcome @Klow7 to the Priority Sports family! pic.twitter.com/bFt9u6uL2K

— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) July 22, 2019

Lowry was previously represented by Andy Miller of ASM Sports.

The 33-year-old Lowry is coming off a championship season, but his performance this upcoming year could determine whether he earns one last big paycheck. In 2018-19, he averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three.

He remains an excellent playmaker and defender and is the type of point guard a contending team could target next summer.

For now, however, he remains a key figure in Toronto, joining Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby on a Raptors team that likely won't be a title contender after losing Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green but should earn a playoff spot this year in the Eastern Conference nonetheless. 

Struggle early, however, and the Raptors could have a fire sale, moving off pending free agents like Lowry, Gasol and Ibaka. At some point, a rebuild around Siakam and VanVleet is coming, and if the Raptors fall out of the playoff picture, it could happen before February's trade deadline. 

But with the Eastern Conference weaker than a year ago, expect Lowry to remain in Toronto for at least one more postseason appearance before potentially moving on in free agency next year.

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly planning to claim forward Kostas Antetokounmpo, the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, off waivers from the Dallas Mavericks.

Varlas Nikos of EuroHoops reported the update Friday.

The Raptors were very interested in Kostas as a 2-way last year if he went undrafted. Would be a reasonable camp bet to fight for a 2-way. https://t.co/WK0bFuL6ck

— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) July 19, 2019

Antetokounmpo was selected with the final pick (No. 60 overall) of the 2018 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, who traded him to the Mavs.

The 21-year-old Athens native made two appearances for Dallas while on a two-way contract. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 52.2 percent from the field across 40 games for the G League's Texas Legends.

Last July, he spoke with Justin Tinsley of The Undefeated about his sibling rivalry with Giannis and his other older brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who recently joined the Bucks.

"I told [Giannis] I'm gonna try to bust his ass," Antetokounmpo said with a laugh. "I say that to all my brothers. We always say, if we play against each other, the only thing we'll do is maybe let them score one time. Then after that, I'm locking him up."

The Raptors already feature a crowded froncourt rotation led by Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, which doesn't leave much path to playing time for Kostas.

He'll likely split time between the NBA and G League if he sticks with Toronto after training camp.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry recently underwent surgery to repair a tendon injury in his left thumb. 

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Lowry hopes to be back for USA Basketball training camp and the FIBA World Cup later this summer.

The thumb injury hampered Lowry throughout the Raptors' playoff run to their first championship in franchise history.

"It's about passing. I'm a big passer," Lowry said on ESPN's The Jump (via ESPN.com). "You know, the flicking of the passing, the kind of—the ball movement, handling the ball. During the game, honestly, I can't feel my thumb."

The 33-year-old certainly relied more on his passing ability last season than he had ever in his career.

Even though his 14.2 points per game were his lowest since 2012-13, he still earned his fifth-straight All-Star selection thanks to his ability to run the offense. Lowry finished the year averaging a career-high 8.7 assists per game, second in the NBA behind only Russell Westbrook.

He also remains an impact player on the defensive end to help the team even when his offensive production isn't there.

Lowry will likely need to increase his scoring output next season following Kawhi Leonard's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.

Along with rising star Pascal Siakam, Lowry figures to be one of the go-to guys for Toronto on the offensive end in 2019-20.

Former first-round draft pick Cameron Payne is expected to join the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Payne has agreed to a two-year deal with the Raptors. 

Payne has bounced around in four NBA seasons since being drafted No. 14 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015.

The Thunder shipped Payne to the Chicago Bulls in Feb. 2017 as part of a package for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a second-round draft pick in 2018. 

After missing the first 57 games in 2017-18 with a right foot injury, Payne showed promise down the stretch upon returning. The Murray State alum set career-highs with 8.8 points and 4.5 assists with a 38.5 three-point percentage in 25 games. 

Payne finished last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers after being waived by the Bulls in January. He appeared in nine games for the Cavs, averaging 8.2 points and 2.6 assists per contest. 

The Raptors are currently set at point guard with Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. Payne could start this season in the G League, though he also gives the team options if they want to explore trade possibilities for Lowry and VanVleet before their contracts expire at the end of next season.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam was reportedly the subject of trade talks between the Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, but the rising star isn't sweating it.

In an interview with TMZ Sports published Tuesday, Siakam was asked about the notion that he could have been dealt to OKC after winning a championship with the Raptors last season:

"It's the NBA. S--t happens," Siakam said. "It's the NBA. It's a business."

After the Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers so that he could join forces with Kawhi Leonard, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Thunder general manager Sam Presti offered both George and guard Russell Westbrook to Toronto in a trade centered on Siakam, but the Raptors balked.

Had the Raptors traded for George, there is a good chance they would have been able to retain Leonard and make another run at a championship.

While George is a superstar who finished third in the MVP voting last season, he is four years older than the 25-year-old Siakam, who is one of the fastest-rising stars in the NBA.

After putting up modest numbers in his first two NBA seasons, Siakam broke out in 2018-19 by averaging 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. That was enough to earn Siakam the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

With Leonard now out of the picture, the Raptors are essentially Siakam's team along with All-Star guard Kyle Lowry.

Toronto doesn't seem to have the makings of a championship contender, but with essentially its entire team returning aside from Kawhi, it should still be a top team in the Eastern Conference at the very least.

After Kawhi Leonard agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Toronto Raptors are seemingly prepared to start next season with the rest of their roster intact. 

Per TSN Sports' Josh Lewenberg, the Raptors have "no plans" to trade Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol or Serge Ibaka this summer. President of basketball operations Masai Ujiri will let the team "sink or swim" at the start of the season before deciding on what direction he wants to take.  

After Leonard's decision to leave the Raptors, it was unclear what Ujiri's plan for the offseason was going to be. 

There was speculation for years that Toronto seemed primed for a full-scale rebuild. Acquiring Leonard last summer ended any notion it would happen in 2018-19. That deal paid off perfectly with the franchise winning its first NBA title. 

Gasol, Lowry and Ibaka would be the most logical trade chips if the Raptors ultimately decide to sell. They are making a combined $82.2 million going into the final season of their contracts and could bring back significant assets for Ujiri to use in the future. 

Toronto is also facing serious roster decisions with just six players signed for more than one season. Fred VanVleet is entering the last year of his deal. Pascal Siakam can become a restricted free agent next summer. 

It could be difficult for the Raptors to sell a full-scale rebuild right away coming off a championship. If the Raptors get off to a slow start, Ujiri has shown he won't be afraid to make a bold move he believes is in the organization's best interest.