Locked On Raptors

In Episode 1581, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (DIME, Basketball Feelings) fresh off her trip to Indianapolis for All-Star Weekend to answer listener questions about your Toronto Raptors. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about All-Star Weekend, whether it can or should be fixed in any way, and why we should all probably adjust our expectations for an event that doesn't carry the same weight as it did in the past for a bunch of pretty understandable reasons. Next, they chat about whether Pascal Siakam will get his #43 retired by the Toronto Raptors, Vince Carter and Kyle Lowry's own number retirement cases and more. Plus, which three Raptors games should time-strapped fans prioritize down the stretch? To wrap, Sean and Katie answer questions about Immanuel Quickley and what they'd like to see from him down the stretch, RJ Barrett's puzzlingly poor defense, and whether Sean will ever hit the end-of-podcast over-the-shoulder shot that he so far as been skunked on.Get your mailbag questions answered on f

In Episode 1580, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet, Raptors in 7) to break down their hopes and dreams for the Toronto Raptors down the stretch of the season. Off the top, they discuss what they'd like to see from the Raptors as it pertains to their philosophy surrounding their Top-6 protected pick owed to the San Antonio Spurs. Should the Raptors make every effort to tank to a place where they're guaranteed to hang onto the pick and draft in the Top-6, or with the lottery odds and standings stacked against them, should they make every effort to play out the season competitively, perhaps even climb the standings by a spot or two, and attempt to convey the pick and clean the slate going forward. Next, Vivek pitches Sean on why he'd like to see a platoon at center between Jakob Poeltl and Kelly Olynyk, with both big men working in a time share and getting starts dependent on matchups. Lastly, Sean makes a plea for the Raptors to find an identity on defense over the final 27 games, Vivek advocates

In Episode 1579, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet, Raptors in 7) to chat about the things they're hoping to see out of the Toronto Raptors during the stretch run of their season. Off the top, they take a second to talk about Jaylen Brown's gloriously embarrassing dunk contest performance before shouting out Scottie Barnes for an admirable and very fun All-Star debut. Next, Sean and Vivek dig into the Immanuel Quickley & Scottie Barnes duo and why the massaging of their fit with one another needs to be the Raptors' highest priority down the stretch, as well as some of the types of actions they're most eager to see them link up for. Lastly, they get into Gradey Dick, and why they'd like to see him play more minutes with the Raptors core four players than he has so far (0) and the reasons for and against moving him into the starting lineup in place of Gary Trent Jr. Part 2 comes tomorrow!Join the Locked On Raptors Discord: https://discord.gg/pvqQBzZTSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Gramm

In Episode 1578, Sean Woodley is joined by Joey Devine (RoundBall Rock) to talk about Scottie Barnes' overall quality as an All-Star player before a way-too-in-depth preview of the All-Star Skills Challenge on Saturday night. Off the top, Sean and Joey discuss where Scottie Barnes slots in on the continuum of All-Stars ranging from Devin Harris to Shaq, and where Barnes' game lines up compared to Raptors All-Stars of the past. Next, Sean and Joey dig into the new format for this year's Skills Challenge, which is a good event, no matter what you say. Lastly, they make their predictions for the Skills Challenge; will Scottie Barnes lead Team All-Star to a victory? Or will Victor Wembanyama's Team Top Picks or Tyrese Halibuton's Team Pacers come away with All-Star Saturday's ultimate prize?! Plus, some quick picks on the less important All-Star events.Join us over on the show's Discord! https://discord.gg/tP6PUtgtSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the ca

In Episode 1577, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to talk about the Toronto Raptors' narrow 127-125 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Pascal Siakam's emotional return to Toronto. Off the top, Sean and Jamar chat about Scottie Barnes' huge bounce back performance after Monday's dud against the Spurs that ended with him leaving the bench early. They get into how Barnes pushing the pace unlocks the best version of himself, and why they're glad he didn't receive a suspension for what happened on Monday. Watching him put up 29-12-8 to head into the All-Star break was much preferable. Next, Sean and Jamar talk about the Raptors' late-game offense, which featured some good and some bad, including some decently drawn up late looks on the heels of some pretty sloppy possessions in the preceding few minutes. Plus, some thoughts on the value of the reps the Raptors are getting in clutch time of late. Lastly, they run through The Good (the absolutely perfect Pascal Siakam tribute, Chris Boucher), The

In Episode 1576, Sean Woodley goes solo with some thoughts on the ways in which the Toronto Raptors are currently missing Pascal Siakam as he gets set a make his return to Toronto tonight before diving into some listener questions. Off the top, Sean chats about the ways in which the departure of Siakam has hurt the Raptors on the court -- all things that were to be expected, but all things that have made it harder for the Raptors to play productive, competitive basketball around Scottie Barnes as the new clearly defined number one option. Plus, some thoughts on how woefilly ill-equipped to handle Siakam the Raptors' defense figures to be tonight. Next, Sean sorts through some listener questions from the show's Discord server about the challenges of having a first-year coach and a player getting his first taste of number one status at the same time, the insanity of Raptors fans online, Gary Trent Jr.'s standing among shooting guards in the league, star players the Raptors could target in trade over the next fe

In Episode 1575, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to about a very bad Toronto Raptors basketball game in which they got demolished by the San Antonio Spurs' star rookie Victor Wembanyama, who posted a triple double with points, rebounds and blocks. Off the top, Sean and Vivek talk about what a disappointing effort it was by a Raptors team comprised of guys who almost all have something meaningful to play for, and yet apart from Gradey Dick and Kelly Olynyk, no one really showed up. Next, inspired by Wemby's brilliance, they attempt to grade the Raptors players on the Wemby Fear Index, a loosely created criteria of how much each Raptor looked spooked by the rookie phenom as though he were an alien from outer space. Lastly, they run through The Good (Gradey Dick, one fleeting stretch of nice bench play with Immanuel Quickley at the helm), The Bad (Scottie Barnes' performance) and The Hmmm (Time for a change to the starting lineup?) to round out the show.Join us over on the Locked On Raptors Dis

In Episode 1574, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors' 1-1 weekend split against the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Off the top, Sean digs into the Raptors' starters looking fantastic against Houston, in particular Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl, and digs into some of the increasingly encouraging numbers on the Raptors' core four and starting lineup featuring Gary Trent Jr. Next, Sean digs into a 119-95 loss to the absolute buzzsaw that is this Cavs team, assess the lack of cohesion that hurt the second unit, and marvel at an outstanding Scottie Barnes game. Lastly, Sean runs the The Good (Gradey Dick's last 11 games), The Bad (the degree to which the Raptors can't afford an off night from Jakob Poeltl) and The Hmmmm (where Ochai Agbaji fits into the Raptors' mix going forward) to round out the show.Join us in the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/z8EEbxx4Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capab

In Episode 1573, Sean Woodley is joined by Zulfi Sheikh (Sportsnet, Raptors Republic) to take a 10,000 foot view of all the moves the Toronto Raptors have made over the course of the last six weeks to try and determine whether they're better set up moving forward than they were when the season began. Off the top, Sean and Zulfi get into the overall takeaways from a trade season that was full of large-scale change both in the complexion of the roster, and the overall direction of the franchise. Is the direction now clear? And are the Raptors in a better spot now than they were before they kicked off the transaction period by trading O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam? Next, Sean and Zulfi chat about the Raptors' targeting Canadian-born players and whether that might become a core principle of their talent accrual strategy going forward, the benefits of trying to identify Canadian players who can help the team, and the limits of that strategy as it relates to landing the very top end players from north of the borde

In Episode 1572, Sean Woodley goes solo for a live reaction episode to break down the Toronto Raptors' moves at the NBA Trade Deadline, as they acquired Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz for Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr. and the worst of their first-round picks in this 2024 draft, moved Dennis Schröder and Thad Young to the Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie in a cost-saving measure, and held on to Bruce Brown despite plenty of rumours that he'd be moved on Thursday. Off the top, Sean digs into the many reasons why the Olynyk/Agbaji trade was a nice bit of business for the Raptors, from the potential to retain Olynyk beyond the expiry of his current contract at season's end, to Agbaji being a better bet than a very late first round selection to become a rotation piece in the next couple years. Next, Sean details the strange Schröder trade, and why it's not as damaging as it could have been considering the addition of Olynyk and the retention of Brown to serve as their backup point guard. This one's a

The Toronto Raptors traded for Kelly Olynyk & Ochai Agbaji. What is Masai Ujiri doing and is this worth a 1st Round Pick? DO THE RAPTORS ONLY WANT CANADIANS?! Then the Raptors traded Dennis Schroder for Spencer Dinwiddie. What does this do for Toronto and what's the plan going forward? Sean Woodley joins Tenitra Batiste to discuss the Kelly Olynyk & Ochai Agbaji trade for the Toronto Raptors and trading Dennis Schroder for Spencer Dinwiddie. Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More

In Episode 1571, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors trade at the exact moment the Toronto Raptors acquired Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz for Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr. and one of the bad picks they got from Indiana in the Pascal Siakam trade -- of which there will be more coverage to come this afternoon at 4pm ET live on the YouTube Channel! Off the top, Sean digs into how awful the Raptors' defense was for most of the Hornets game, and why the Raptors most important players were the biggest culprits until some lock down work to close the game out. Next, Sean chats about the genuinely promising signs from Toronto on the offensive end, and the early returns on the Scottie Barnes-RJ Barrett-Immanuel Quickley-Jakob Poeltl quartet when they share the floor together. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Dennis Schroder's performance), The Bad (the Raptor's lack of defensive talent) and The Hmmmm (the end of the pre-deadline fog excuse for disjointed play) to round out t

In Episode 1570, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (DIME, Basketball Feelings) to chat about Scottie Barnes being named an NBA All-Star injury replacement alongside Trae Young, the adjustment to rooting for a team that isn't winning basketball games, and their final predictions ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline. Off the top, Sean and Katie react to Barnes earning his first All-Star nod, their favourite elements of his All-Star leap season, and what they're looking for out of Scottie down the stretch of the season. Next, 50 games into the season, this feels like it's been a barren year as far as things to get excited about in Toronto. Has this been a lost season from the fan perspective? Sean and Katie discuss, while digging into the adjustment of expectations and motivations that has to happen when you go from rooting for a competitive team to a retooling one, and what excites them about what lies ahead over the final 32 games once the Trade Deadline dust settles. Plus, what are their predictions ahead of

In Episode 1569, Sean Woodley goes solo to dissect a 138-100 Toronto Raptors loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night in a game that was saved only by Gradey Dick's career-best 22-point night. Off the top, Sean digs into the many ways in which the Raptors missed RJ Barrett against the Pelicans, who are already a more forceful team than the healthy Raptors, but were completely overwhelming without Barrett's power game there to serve as a foil to the Pelicans' athletic and phyiscal brand of ball. Next, Sean sings the praises of Gradey Dick, who is simply very good at getting open, and in this one contributed some very encouraging shot-making and on-ball work. It's pretty clear he needs to be playing heavy minutes from here to the end of the season. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (one last garbage time swan song for Chris Boucher?), The Bad (Jordan Nwora looking out of place) and The Hmmm (whether recent blowout losses might have the Raptors lean even further into a teardown by Thursday) to round out

In Episode 1568, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to chat about the Toronto Raptors falling short in double overtime against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahome City Thunder on Sunday night. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about where things went wrong as the Raptors blew a 23-point lead over the course of a troublesome second half that saw the Thunder adjust to the Raptors' defense and get red hot from deep. Plus, what can be read, if anything, into Scottie Barnes' strange finish to the game, the hierarchy of the Raptors' offense, and the lack of interplay with Barnes and Immanuel Quickley to this point in their very brief time playing with one another. Next, Sean and Vivek chat about the things that went right in the game, from the play of RJ Barrett, to the defensive scheme giving SGA trouble, to the mere experience of playing in a high leverage, intense game with one of the league's best teams being something to build on. Lastly, they run through The Good (Thad Young, Barrett), The

In Episode 1567, Sean Woodley and Katie Heindl chat about a handful of Toronto Raptors related topics, including the retirement of championship team member and fan favourite Marc Gasol, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl inching towards their returns, and Scottie Barnes not making the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a reserve. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about Gasol, what he meant to the Raptors during his brief time in Toronto, and what made him such an admirable NBA star. Next, Sean and Katie chat about the approaching returns of Quickley and Poeltl after both practiced in full yesterday, and the downstream effects their returns should bring to the team as it continues to look for its new shape after a month of upheaval. Lastly, Sean and Katie chat about whether Scottie Barnes was fairly left off the East's All-Star roster, or whether there were guys who made the team who Scottie was more deserving than. All that, plus a brief aside on Bruce Brown and whether he's soon to be traded.Join us over on

In Episode 1566, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to break down the Toronto Raptors' gritty, fun, 118-107 win over DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. Off the top, Sean and Jamar rattle through some of the most fun elements of the Raptors' losing skid-snapping loss, including another scoring outburst from Jordan Nwora, and some heady play by the Raptors' bench guard duo of Bruce Brown and Dennis Schroder, thrust into starting duty by the Raptors' injury situation, as well as the promise of good vibes and solid play that should only be amplified by the returns of Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Next, Sean and Jamar chat about Gary Trent Jr.'s excellent 24-point night to cap a red-hot month of January, and whether they'd prefer to see the Toronto Raptors keep GTJ through the trade deadline, or use his recent surge to sell high on him at the NBA Trade Deadline. Lastly, Sean and Jamar run through the Good (Thad Young, the Raptors' shot profile), the Bad (D

In Episode 1565, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to play a round of everyone's favourite Toronto Raptors parlour game: What's More Likely?! Off the top, they chat about whether it's more likely that Jakob Poeltl's return to the lineup kickstarts a 9-1 run in the next 10 games, or fails to change the Raptors' losing ways since he went out with an ankle injury. Next, they discuss Bruce Brown and Gary Trent Jr.s' fate ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline and whether it's more likely that both or neither get traded before February 8th. Lastly, they look into the crystal balls to predict whether it's more like that Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett will all make an All-Star game in the next four year, or just one or fewer gets a nod in that time span.Join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord! https://discord.gg/5QpqT7bRSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOC

In Episode 1564, Sean Woodley goes solo to entertain some Toronto Raptors questions from you, the listeners, about Immanuel Quickley, the length of the Raptors' rebuild/retool, and much more. Off the top, Sean digs into a question about Immanuel Quickley's pending RFA status and whether there is a number that the Raptors would walk away from should some team come out of the woodwork with a massive offer sheet this summer. The number would have to be very high, one would think, not the mention how unrealistic it is that the someone might come with a godfather offer so rich it would make the Raptors balk. Fear not the RFA boogeyman! Next, Sean discusses when the Raptors might power out of their ongoing retool and into a competitive window, and makes the argument for why 2025-26 feels like the season where things might really start clicking -- but could it happen as soon as next season? Plus, which former Raptors role players would fit in well on this team? Could RJ Barrett end up being a better player than IQ?

In Episode 1563, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Basketball Feelings, DIME) for a little check up on their feelings in the wake of a few weeks of massive change for the Toronto Raptors, with O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam both being traded away, and the final ties to the title era Raptors gone from the team. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about how they're feeling about the Siakam trade with a week of distance to think about it, and why the departure of the franchise icon is such a pivotal moment not just for Sean and Katie, but surely for wide swaths of the Raptors fan base as well. Next, they dig into the new era the team has moved into, the process of reestablishing and emotional attachment to a new version of the squad, and the process of picking out new Favourite Guys. Lastly, they chat about Bruce Brown's future, and get sad about Kyle Lowry getting send to basketball hell in Charlotte.Join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/bfNpqjJ7Support Us By Supporting Our Spon