The Raptors have listed RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Bruce Brown as out for their season opener against Cleveland on Wednesday, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet tweets.
Barrett is making progress in his recovery from shoulder injury. He was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday but still hasn’t been cleared for contact, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports (Twitter links). Olynyk is dealing with back stiffness, while Walter and Brown are recovering from shoulder and knee injuries, respectively.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Raptors have acknowledged this will be a rebuilding season but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring, Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes. The Raptors plan to push the pace and play an entertaining brand of basketball but their early schedule is brutal, Koreen notes. In its first 25 games, Toronto will have 22 matchups against teams that finished better .500 in 2023/24.
- Joe Mazzulla had a blunt and somewhat amusing response to questions about the pressure to repeat as champions. “It’s not pressure,” said the Celtics coach, per ESPN News Services. “There’s nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that’s going to impact my identity and who I am as a person or a coach. We’re either going to win or we’re not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that’s it.”
- Sixers first-rounder Jared McCain averaged 12.8 points and shot 37.9% on 3-pointers in five preseason games but he’s unlikely to find many minutes on a win-now team. McCain plans to work hard and deal with whatever’s thrown at him in his rookie campaign, he told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. McCain will be available for Philadelphia’s opener on Wednesday despite suffering bruised lungs during a preseason game last week. He’s not listed on the injury report, Pompey tweets.
Raptors have regulated to tanking opening night? Interesting.
They don’t have the talent to compete and half their roster are rookies/2nd year guys
So if they do it right, next year would be a lot better and then the year after hopefully Rising towards the top in the east? I can see that with Scotty Barnes leading the way and a couple more good drafts.
Should have traded Brown the moment his team option was picked up. Foolish hesitation on the two man management part…
Raptors are moving in the right direction.
“none of you are invited to my funeral and that’s it”
jfc Joe Mazzula, try not to kill the rest of us with laughter xD
I like his confidence…
40 years is a long time for someone in the NBA…. lol
McCain is too young. He won’t help this yr. Should be in G-league.
Jalen was not invited to Olympic team. Jason wasn’t given mins on Olympic team. Both got something to play for. It showed. Celtics definitely the team to beat.
Hukporti is a player that can help us. Hoping Thibs works him in. He’s experienced enough to stay and work with Thibs. Hope they do it.
link to empiresportsmedia.com