The old sports saying goes that you’re either selling wins or selling hope. And considering the Raptors won 32 games last season, you’ll understand why head coach Darko Rajakovic has spent part of this off-season putting a hopeful spin on his team’s future.
Among his arguments: That the franchise hasn’t received its due praise for acquiring and re-signing Brandon Ingram. The one-time all-star, who came to Toronto in a February trade for a collection of pieces that included Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and a 2026 first-round pick, promptly signed a three-year contract extension worth about $40 million (U.S.) annually. But perhaps in part because Ingram has yet to play for the Raptors on account of a severely sprained ankle that kept him out of action for the bulk of last season, his presence has largely slipped under the radar — at least, to Rajakovic’s eye.
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