The Toronto Raptors have as much chance as the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder and now the New York Knicks to land Kevin Durant, the top prize of the free-agency class of 2016. Why? It's because the Raps now have all the makings of a winner.
Arguably the most surprising team in the Eastern Conference outside the unexpectedly red-hot Atlanta Hawks, the Raptors picked up what they left off since dumping Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings midway into last season, racking up a 31-15 slate to stay in contention for a home-court advantage in the first-round or possibly a top-seed in the East.
Kyle Lowry, who will play in his first All-Star game in New York after a late surge of votes pushed him past Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade for the final starting spot in the East backcourt, is undoubtedly the major force behind the Raptors' unprecedented rise. However, their recent success wouldn't be possible without Masai Ujiri, who is slowly transforming the Raptors into a model franchise.
Since his arrival in Toronto after a successful stint with the Nuggets, Ujiri made his presence felt right away by making a series of moves (Trading Andrea Bargnani to New York Knicks, Rudy Gay to Sacramento Kings) to attain both short and long-term goals.
And with flamboyant rapper Drake doing work in enhancing Toronto's image as bustling city to play for, Ujiri now have the leverage to make a strong push for elite free-agents, notably Durant - who is going to be the Grand Prize in a very loaded 2016 free-agency class.
"Raptors GM Masai Ujiri does his evaluation in small chunks, normally, six games at a time. The larger MLSE apparatus thinks longer term. The most ambitious of those macro ambitions involves luring Durant to Toronto," according to Cathal Kelly of the Star.
Durant, the reigning NBA MVP and arguably the second best basketball player in the world behind LeBron James, is already influencing everybody's decision two years prior to his free-agency.
His upcoming free-agency was previously billed as a two-team showdown between his current team (the Thunder) andt his home town's NBA team (the Wizards), but the number of potential suitors (The Lakers, Rockets and Knicks) continue to pile up and expected to increase significantly in 2016.
Still, the Raptors should be taken seriously as a possible destination for Durant even without the glitz & glamour of big market teams like the Knicks and Lakers and the connections he has with the Thunder & Wizards. After all, Durant himself admitted he once dreamed of playing for the Raptors, who appear one major piece away to become a major championship contender.
Even without a household name on their roster, the Raptors have shown they can win games by playing as a team. From being perennial whipping boys, Ujiri has now imbued a winning culture within the Raptors central core. And perhaps, it would be enough to convince Durant in leading Toronto to the next level.
