Last year’s ECF run was hardly a disappointment. For a day 1 fan of a franchise that had never before won a 7-game series, it was the opposite.

The Raps’ 2017 playoff performance will dictate a lot. The team has been defending at a high level since the Ibaka and Tucker additions. They score well when Lowry and DeRozan are both there. Unless it’s a total meltdown, Masai will likely stay the course.

There’s no guarantee that a flip of Lowry/DeRozan results in a better team. It’d be difficult for Masai to find a deal like that, but if it means a better Raptor team, he’ll do it.