Orlando Magic Daily
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3 Up, 3 Down for the Orlando Magic’s future playoff spot

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Feb 14, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) controls the ball against Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke (3) and center Moritz Wagner (21) during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3 Up, 3 Down in the Eastern Conference playoff picture

3 Down: Toronto Raptors

There are a number of teams who could be on the way down too.

The Miami Heat have #HEATCulture but they have a lot of salary cap problems to fix. They finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. Even if their grit can take them a pretty long way.

The Atlanta Hawks seem like a mess still. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray could be more effective in their second year together. But Clint Capela seems to be on the back nine of his career. And John Collins is just stagnating. They are missing something.

But the team that appears ready for a reset and could be freeing up a postseason spot is the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors are in a state of transition. They moved on from coach Nick Nurse. They seem poised to trade OG Anunoby — for a healthy return, but still moving on from a key starter. And Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. both seem likely to leave the team in free agency.

Pascal Siakam is a solid player. Scottie Barnes is a solid player. But those two players on their own without Nurse’s offensive game-planning (even if he overplayed his starters) and with a rookie head coach, albeit a good player development coach, in Darko Rajakovic.

But that is the key. The Raptors did not hire an Xs and Os mastermind or an experienced coach. They hired one of the best development coaches in the league. That would certainly suggest the Raptors are expecting a bit of a reset.

And considering this Toronto team seemed to be hitting the nadir of this group’s contention phase after falling in the Play-In Tournament to the Chicago Bulls, it certainly seems like the Raptors could be continuing that trip downward to reload some of their talent.

Toronto will not go down without a fight. This team has talent and a culture even with a new coach. The Raptors will still be a tough out. But it seems like they are not quite the contenders they were before these moves. And they are due for a bottoming out.