The 2024-25 Toronto Raptors season was a challenging yet pivotal year in their ongoing rebuild, finishing with a 30-52 record and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Their season was defined by injuries, some weird initial strategy until the team decided to allow their young players to get more exposure while establishing their roles.
The Good
Strategic Tanking for Draft Positioning:
The Raptors’ 30-52 record secured them the 7th-best odds for the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, with a 7.5% chance at the No. 1 pick and a 34.2% chance at a top-4 pick. This positions them to potentially land a transformative talent like Cooper Flagg, aligning with their rebuild strategy.
Jakob Poeltl’s Career Year:
Poeltl had a standout season, averaging a career-best 14.5 points (62.7% FG), 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals over 57 games. His rim protection and pick-and-roll efficiency anchored the defense, which improved from 27th to 14th in the NBA.
RJ Barrett’s Consistency:
RJ Barrett emerged as a reliable offensive leader, averaging 21.1 points (46.8% FG, 35.0% 3PT), 6.3 rebounds, and a career-high 5.4 assists over 58 games. Despite an injury late in the season, Barrett’s ability to carry the offense during tough stretches earned him praise for his resilience and growth, even if his efficiency remained polarizing.
Emergence of Young Talent:
Jonathan Mogbo: The 31st overall pick recorded the NBA’s first rookie triple-double of the season (17 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) in a win over the Charlotte Hornets, showcasing his versatility.
Gradey Dick: The second-year wing improved significantly, averaging 11.2 points and shooting 39% from three in his final 39 games, earning a starting role and proving his value as a shooter.
Brandon Ingram Acquisition:
The Raptors traded for former All-Star Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans, adding a proven scorer to complement Barnes. Despite risks (Ingram’s contract year), the move signaled a commitment to accelerating the rebuild, boosting team morale, and keeping Poeltl engaged. The trade was seen as a bold step to address the team’s scoring woes.
The Bad
Persistent Injury Issues:
Injuries decimated the roster, with key players like Scottie Barnes (missed 17 games), Immanuel Quickley (missed significant time due to a partial UCL tear), RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk, and rookie Ja’Kobe Walter all sidelined at various points. Quickley’s elbow injury in the season opener and subsequent UCL tear kept him out until at least mid-December, disrupting the team’s point guard stability. These absences prevented the core from building chemistry and led to inconsistent lineups, with the team often relying on G League call-ups or small-ball configurations.
Regression of Key Players:
Scottie Barnes, expected to make a leap toward All-NBA status, stagnated statistically. His 2024-25 averages (19.3 points, 44.6% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 7.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists) were slightly down from his All-Star 2023-24 season, with his three-point shooting notably declining. This plateau disappointed fans who anticipated a breakout. Immanuel Quickley also underwhelmed due to injuries and a shift to a playmaking role, falling short of Most Improved Player hype.
Lack of Center Depth:
The Raptors struggled with thin center depth behind Jakob Poeltl. This led to small-ball lineups and a weak paint defense, with the team allowing 118 points per game (26th in the NBA).
Offensive Struggles:
The Raptors ranked 26th in offensive rating, 29th in three-pointers made, and 23rd in three-point efficiency. Their drive-and-kick style generated good shots but lacked conversion, with the team struggling to find consistent outside shooting after Gary Trent Jr.’s departure. This offensive inefficiency was a major factor in their losing record.
Loss of Draft Pick Control:
The Raptors lost their 2024 first-round pick (No. 8 overall) to the San Antonio Spurs due to a top-6 protected pick obligation from the Poeltl trade. This was a bitter blow, as retaining the pick could have added a high-upside rookie like Donovan Clingan or Zach Edey, exacerbating the pain of a lost season.
