The Toronto Raptors have tied the Memphis Grizzlies for the sixth-worst record in the NBA standings.
With their latest loss against the Orlando Magic, the Raptors now have the same 23-44 record as the Grizzlies with 15 games left on the season.
Ever since Toronto lost both Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl to injuries, Toronto has done a lot of losing.
The Raptors have lost a season-high 6 straight games and 8 of their last 9.
The Raptors focus which was once trying to make the Play-In Tournament, has seemingly switched to trying to keep their 2024 first-round pick.
If Toronto finishes the season with sole possession of the sixth-worst record in the league, they would have a 45.8 percent chance of keeping its top-six protected pick.
In the event that both the Raptors and Grizzlies are tied for the sixth-worst record at the end of the season, then a coin flip would decide which of the two teams finishes with the sixth-best odds in the draft lottery.
If the Raptors remain the seventh-worst team in the league, Toronto would only have a 32 percent chance of keeping its pick.
The Raptors owe its top-six protected pick to the San Antonio Spurs from the Jakob Poeltl trade that happened at last season’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.
Eleven of Toronto’s final 15 games this season are against playoff teams.
With Toronto missing many key players including RJ Barrett who will be away from the team as he mourns the loss of his younger brother Nathan, they might be able to finish with a worse record than Memphis.
Next up for Toronto
Many Raptors fans seem to be on board with the Raptors tanking away the rest of the season.
The Raptors next matchup will once again pin them as an underdog as they take on the Magic for the final time this season.
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