Just In: Two Sensational Raptors players Leave, And Two Key Player Make a Strong Comment

A few of hours ago, two Raptors players expressed their want to depart.

For Darko Rajakovic, the head coach of the Toronto Raptors in his first season, figuring out his rotations has been an enormous effort. Due to multiple player transactions, frequent injury absences, and roster turnover, starting lineups and rotations must be created from scratch for each game based on the players that are available.

Rajakovic should thus be granted a Mount Logan degree of leeway when assessing his rotation choices. Erik Spoelstra is the only head coach who could handle the challenge. That being said, it is evident from examining the individual accomplishments of certain players that certain Raptors require less playing time, while others require more.

Starting with a player that injuries have forced out of his ideal role, let’s examine four such individuals and talk about why each requires a shift in playing time.

Kelly Olynyk should play less games.

It would seem pointless to argue that Kelly Olynyk should play less with the absence of Chris Boucher, Pascal Siakam, Christian Koloko, and Precious Achiuwa from the team, as well as the indefinite injuries to Jakob Poeltl and Boucher. Who else is going to play center?

It is obvious that Kelly Olynyk is playing too much for the Raptors; we’ll talk more about that response in a bit. Olynyk has the lowest plus-minus of any player the Raptors have on their roster this season; in his 13 games, the team has been outscored by 7.5 points per game.

The problem is made worse by the Raptors’ dearth of defensive forwards; as a result, Olynyk and RJ Barrett are playing heavy minutes as the “two bigs,” which is disastrous for their defense. Even worse, his offensive performance has been lackluster; compared to earlier in the Utah Jazz season, he has shot only 33.3 percent from outside the arc and his assist rate has dropped dramatically.

Since Olynyk is committed for the upcoming two seasons, the Raptors should try to limit his playing time, give other players opportunities, and use Olynyk in more effective lines the following season.