The Toronto Raptors have made up some serious ground on the Memphis Grizzlies.
After the Raptors latest loss against the Detroit Pistons, Toronto is only a half-game up on the Grizzlies for the sixth-worst record in the overall standings.
Memphis has played one more game than the Raptors (68), so Toronto is right on the Grizzlies’ tail.
The Raptors had their sights set on the Play-In Tournament coming out of the All-Star break as Darko Rajakovic said his team was focused on winning.
However, injuries derailed those plans. Toronto lost Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl who are both out indefinitely and have been severely shorthanded ever since.
Toronto has lost 5 games in a row and 7 of their last 8 contests. Therefore, with 16 games left the Raptors appear to be all-in on trying to keep their 2024 first-round pick.
If the Raptors finish the season with sole possession of the sixth-worst record in the NBA, Toronto would have a 45.8 percent chance of keeping its top-six protected pick.
That would be a 37.2 percent chance of landing a top-four pick and an 8.6 percent chance of landing the No. 6 pick.
If both the Raptors and Grizzlies are tied for the sixth-worst record at the end of the season, then a coin toss would decide which of the two teams finishes with the sixth-best odds in the lottery.
If the Raptors remain the seventh-worst team in the league, Toronto would only have a 32 percent chance of keeping its pick.
Raptors have to pay up eventually
Toronto owes its top-six protected pick to the San Antonio Spurs from the Jakob Poeltl trade that happened at last year’s trade deadline.
If the pick is not conveyed this year, the Raptors will owe a top-six protected pick to the Spurs in 2025 or 2026.
It will be interesting to see how the race to the sixth-worst record plays out for Toronto.
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