The door was shut weeks ago, but officially locked on Friday night: the Toronto Raptors have been eliminated from playoff contention. A string of eleven consecutive losses hasn’t just sealed their fate but also shifted the team’s mood from slightly hopeful to completely bleak, reminiscent of Eeyore’s demeanor.
Despite the current despair, there are reasons to hold onto optimism for the future. The Raptors’ core is youthful and is expected to return next season. Scottie Barnes becomes eligible for an extension this summer, Immanuel Quickley, a restricted free agent, is likely to be re-signed, and RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and Jakob Poeltl are all under contract for multiple seasons beyond this one.
However, not all players will be returning. Let’s examine three players from the current roster who are all but guaranteed to depart this offseason.
No. 3: Jontay Porter
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Raptors were likely optimistic about Jontay Porter’s potential and were even considering opening up a roster spot for him this summer. His glimpses of strong play on both ends of the court made him seem like an ideal candidate to retain as a third center and nurture for further development.
However, instead of fulfilling those expectations, Porter appears to be heading towards a lifetime ban from the NBA pending the completion of their investigation. While there’s a slim chance he might avoid an overly harsh punishment, even in the best-case scenario, the Raptors won’t be retaining him while he serves a lengthy suspension. It’s highly improbable that Jontay Porter will be on the Raptors, or any NBA team, next season.
