Raptors vs. Wizards Preview: Eastern Conference Strugglers Meet as Second Pick Sar Needs to Prove Himself

On October 7 at 7:30 AM, the NBA preseason game will see the Raptors host the Wizards.

The Raptors are currently in a rebuilding phase, finishing only 12th in the Eastern Conference last season and failing to make the playoffs. Midway through last season, the Raptors acquired Barrett and Quickley through trades. After the departure of Anunoby and Siakam, the team will focus on developing Barnes as their core player. Currently, the Raptors do not have any big-name players and are one of the most unheralded teams in the NBA.

In this summer’s transfer market, the Raptors did not make any major deals but did gain some picks in the draft, selecting Walter from Baylor University with the 19th pick in the first round and Mogbo from the University of San Francisco in the second round. They also traded for Shams and others. On paper, the Raptors’ competitiveness is limited, with Barrett, Quickley, Barnes, Brown, Poeltl, and Olynyk expected to be the main rotation players. The Wizards are also in a rebuilding phase, winning only 15 games last season and ranking second-to-last in the league, just ahead of the bottom-ranked Pistons, and were out of playoff contention early. The current core of the Wizards is Kuzma, who averaged 22.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season, while Poole averaged 17.4 points per game, albeit with low efficiency, leading to his plus-minus becoming a joke.

During the offseason, the Wizards’ roster underwent significant changes. They selected second overall pick Sar, 14th pick Carrington, and 24th pick KeShaun George, all of whom possess some talent. Sar’s performance in the previous Summer League was poor, and he still needs to adapt to the intensity of the NBA. This preseason is a good opportunity for him to prove himself.

Additionally, the Wizards acquired Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, Valanciunas, and others, while Jones and Avdija left. The three new additions all have considerable talent, with Brogdon being a Sixth Man of the Year candidate and Valanciunas a formidable inside presence. If the three rookies can meet expectations, the Wizards should see an improvement in their record this upcoming season compared to last season.

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