Doug Smith: Raptors mailbag: Ja Morant trade rumours heat up; Kyle Lowry deserves one more ovation

Not a ton of questions in Ye Olde Mailbag this week, but the ones here certainly are challenging, so thanks.

Before we start, one thing that won’t happen but should: In Monday’s last meeting of the season here between the Raptors and Sixers, Nick Nurse should seize the moment, put Kyle Lowry in the starting lineup, let him be introduced last and let the Raptors icon bask in one last standing ovation at Scotiabank Arena.

Hi, Doug. A bit of a tangential question to basketball, but something I’ve been thinking about for a while and would appreciate your take.

As outlined in Professor Jason Stanley’s excellent recent op-ed in the Star, we in Canada seem to be living in denial regarding the U.S., which is showing all the signs of devolving into a rogue superpower with strong fascist characteristics.

Prof. Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore and other experts on authoritarianism have said much the same thing. There’s even talk now in reputable media (Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, BNN Bloomberg, The Conversation) about Canada’s need to consider going nuclear to protect itself. Which brings me to my question:

While far from the most important aspect of this, I’m curious what you think it would look like for our professional sports teams if our relationship with the U.S. became actively hostile.

Say the Trump administration does exactly what they’re threatening to do and takes over Greenland and then begins coercing Canada through higher tariffs or even blockades, sanctions, no-fly zones and the like.

In that context, how on earth do we paint a smile on our face and go watch a Raptors-Mavericks, Jays-Nationals game, etc.? Do our franchises fold overnight? Do we set up alternate Canadian leagues?

Again, appreciate your expert thoughts on a situation I hope never comes to pass (but a lot of things I thought would never come to pass are now passing by daily). Best.

That’s a great question and I’ll admit my mind has wandered there a bit. And I am also dead certain that leagues, like governments and major businesses, have their game theory staffs working through every conceivable scenario.

I don’t know what they could do. Doesn’t seem to make sense to suspend the franchises because I don’t know what the start point or end point would be for doing that.

While I believe Canadian-only leagues are viable, there’s no question the economics of scale would mean they are smaller, and if we’re talking about “no Americans allowed” I don’t know what the talent would be like.

Already down three starters from the opening tip, Barrett limps off late in Friday night’s defeat in Boston.

Already down three starters from the opening tip, Barrett limps off late in Friday night’s defeat in Boston.

What I do know, and we saw it briefly during the original tariff foofaraw, is that fans in Canada are not above making their disgust with the United States known publicly. It’s unfair to the American players and teams and I don’t know how sustainable it would be, even as a symbolic protest, but it’s a start.

But we are really thinking about uncharted, scary waters at levels far, far, far beyond sports. And I agree with you, I’d never have thought it necessary, either. But I also never thought things would have devolved to this point.

Maybe — hopefully — this is a blip and the midterm elections (if they are held) or the impeachment process (if there’s the will for the fight) or simple common sense (yeah, right) provide the course correction the world needs.

Happy 2026, Doug! Getting closer to the halfway point of the season, so we have some idea of what the season will look like around April. That is, unless the Earth spins out of orbit before the trade deadline arrives!

1) When the Raptors lose, it seems we are getting outrebounded and are missing a centre. If the team wins, somehow we did it without a “true” centre and rebounding wasn’t an issue. Same team, same players … Why are they hopeless some nights and almost unstoppable the next?

2) The Raptors drafted Christian Koloko and Ulrich Chomche recently. Both had health issues and were waived. Is it possible that either could return if their health issues are resolved? (I think Koloko may currently have a 10-day with Memphis.) Chomche looked promising, but I understand not holding a roster spot indefinitely for an injured two-way player. Your take on the situation …

3) OK, the Raptors know who the starting five are. The first off the bench are Jamal Shead and Sandro Mamukelashvili, with Collin Murray-Boyles looking more like a lock as eighth man. Then things are a bit less certain, though Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter are probably next in the pecking order, with Ochai Agbaji settling in as 10th guy. The rest, with the exception of Jamison Battle, are stuck pretty firmly on the bench. Do you agree that Murray-Boyles, Walter and Dick have begun to distinguish themselves amongst the bench players?

4) Thanks for the RJ Barrett article. It did remind me of how previously the team had a bad record without Jakob Poeltl, and it was argued that he was the linchpin. Agree that the team is better with both guys and less when either is missing. I think Barrett, though, has a more versatile game compared to Poeltl, so he can contribute a wider variety of skills. Do you think Barrett is one of the most underrated NBA players? The fact that we got TWO starters for OG Anunoby suggested how poorly he was undervalued.

(Bonus question: Is there a case to be made for Toronto to stand pat and NOT trade anyone?)

Happy and healthy new year to you and yours!

They are not missing a centre. Their starter is hurt, his backup is fine, not having a third-string centre (and Murray-Boyles is becoming one) is hardly crippling. What happens on the nights they are outrebounded is that second-wave rebounders such as Raptors wings and guards don’t do their job well enough.

I suppose they could come back, there’s no rule about it, but Koloko and Chomche aren’t legitimate NBA talents.

It seems clear that Shead, Mamukelashvili and Murray-Boyles are locks. Dick and Walter are the next two, yes.

I think RJ is in a perfect situation to take best advantage of his skills. Whether that fit would happen elsewhere, I don’t know. And maybe he’s underrated around the league, but he’s not here.

The bonus one hasn’t changed in my mind since September: They have to do at least a little deal to get below the tax level. Getting about $11 million (U.S.) back rather than pay a few million out is too important.

Hi, Doug. Warning: This is a rant.

In a recent Raptors game, RJ Barrett got hit with what I thought was a chintzy tech. The commentators noted this.

However, some of them went on to complain that the league is getting soft. I think anyone who makes that complaint should be required to explain Rudy Tomjanovich (the punch in-game from Kermit Washington could have been close to life-threatening).

Ever since then the league has continually tightened the rules on retaliation. So yes, what was acceptable before is not acceptable now.

The longest road starts with a single step. In this case, slacking the retaliation rules is the first step on the road to that dark place in the NBA.

The NBA will not and should not take that step.

So, the league is softer. That is a good thing.

Toronto freshman stuffed the stats sheet in win over Atlanta that showed all kinds of possibilities for the ninth pick in last June’s draft.

Toronto freshman stuffed the stats sheet in win over Atlanta that showed all kinds of possibilities for the ninth pick in last June’s draft.

I think there are a couple of things at play here.

There is no question some of the toughness has been legislated out of the game for a variety of reasons. Fights such as Tomjanovich-Washington, melees such as the Malice at the Palace, the Knicks-Heat playoff fights and the Bad Boys were too far out of line and the game was getting unwatchable. So, it had to change and it did.

But the question that I and others have is whether the pendulum went too far the other way. The defences are, well, defensible and even a modicum of physicality is being taken out of the game. I think we’re seeing a bit more handsy defence and a bit more “toughness” and I don’t think the product has suffered.

Yes, they needed to get rid of the brawls and punches and the like. But did they go too far?

There seems to be a lot of talk about Atlanta wanting to trade away Trae Young. Given the paucity of consistent shooting by the Raptors (esp. from the three-point range) would it make sense to consider a trade for Young? Admittedly, it runs counter to the goal of getting under the luxury tax apron, but maybe if the team sent Immanuel Quickley and Ochai Agbaji back the other way, you’d almost get a match and it might not be so challenging to get under the tax threshold through other moves.

Does this make any kind of sense?

All the best and Happy New Year to you and the Smith family!

We all know how that ended up, but I figured I’d still use this to go on the record that I was dead against any pursuit of Young (now a Washington Wizard) at any cost.

I think he’s maybe the most disinterested defensive player I’ve seen, and I don’t think he’s a very good offensive player when he’s not on the ball or in primary pick-and-roll action. And those are the main tent poles of what the Raptors do.

I think it would have been calamitous.

Hey, Doug, how’s things? So, we see Trae Young’s off the market and you know Raptor fans, always chasing shiny baubles.

So, Anthony Davis? Ja Morant? Whaddya think?

I would have made a call on Davis, but only to see the parameters of a deal and not because I’d gut my roster to get him. Buying low would have been nice, but this latest hand injury setback would send me scurrying out of the room.

Morant? Nah, not a chance, and I need to put this as delicately as I can. Given how the relationship between Morant and former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins ended and knowing how tight Jenkins was with Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, who was an assistant for the Grizzlies, and seeing how Memphis distanced itself from both Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane (both favourites of Rajakovic who were jettisoned while Morant stayed) I’d suggest there’s a better chance of you or I playing for Rajakovic than Morant playing here.

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