Raptors Get 1st Look at New Roster in Blowout Loss to Cavaliers

The Toronto Raptors got their first look at Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji but a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers marred the night

At least the Toronto Raptors are starting to make some sense.

That’s not to say things are pretty. A 119-97 drubbing from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday showed there’s still work to do — a lot. But stylistically, there’s been progress.

For one, Scottie Barnes looked more comfortable. It hasn’t always been that way since Toronto began reshaping its roster earlier this season, but when Barnes is clicking, it’s certainly special.

Against the Cavaliers, he was everywhere for Toronto. He responded from a disappointing showing against the Houston Rockets and looked like every bit the All-Star he’d been named earlier this week. He was aggressive early, getting into the paint with the kind of aggressiveness Toronto has been looking for.

In the post, Barnes was unstoppable.

"He does a really good job of scanning the court and finding who's open," Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. "I thought that this was probably his best post-up game this season, in regards to finding the balance, when to attack and score, and when to find his teammates."

Barnes beat Jarrett Allen with his quickness in the paint when Toronto went with its smallball lineup and if Cleveland sent help at Barnes, the Raptors forward found three-point shooters dotting the arc. He connected with Gary Trent Jr., throwing a one-handed skip pass to the corner in the second quarter.

"It was a high, high-level play," Rajaković said of Barnes' pass to Trent. "He's more on the ball as you can see. He's handling it more in pick and rolls, he's finding how to score but also how to connect teammates."

Barnes racked up his fourth career triple-double and became the first Raptors player to record three 20-point triple-doubles in a single season, finishing the night with 10 assists and 10 rebounds to go with a team-high 24 points in 35 minutes.

"He's definitely a way better passer than I knew," Kelly Olynyk said of Barnes. "He sees the floor really well and his IQ is really high. He's coming up to me telling me things that I see and I know but he's telling me before I can tell him. So it's really fun to see that and see him to continue to develop and grow."

It just wasn’t going to matter against a Cavaliers team that has strung together nine straight wins and is now 17-1 since losing to Toronto on Jan. 1.

But Saturday wasn’t about the result as much as it was an opportunity for Toronto’s newest additions to get their first crack at playing time for the Raptors.

Olynyk checked in at the four-minute mark of the first quarter and got a loud applause from the hometown fans. He waived in appreciation as he took his spot alongside Jakob Poeltl in Toronto’s frontcourt as the Raptors tested out a new two-big lineup.

"Just gives you chills," Olynyks said. "Special moment having the support of this whole country."

It’ll take some time for Olynyk to get acclimated to Toronto’s system, but when he’s ready, he’s certainly going to help.

“Just spaces you out so much,” Cavaliers coach J. B. Bickerstaff said of Olynyk’s floor-spacing ability. “Your big guys are typically matched up on those guys and are in uncomfortable positions because they're so used to being in the paint or near the basket. Your rotations change a little bit defensively, how you stop drives, how you protect the paint, and those types of things.

“This game is about spacing and the rules are set up, you put guys in isolation situations and the offense has the advantage because you're not allowed to touch guys and be physical. So it helps to kind of eliminate a shot blocker or a rim protector for guys who can attack the basket and create more files because there's less people there.”

It hasn’t been that often that Toronto has had a center bring the ball up the court or space out to the corners, but Olynyk looked comfortable in both of those roles. He passed out of an open corner three to find Gradey Dick for a triple in the third. Dick then returned the favor in the fourth, finding Olynyk for three as the Canadian center finished his debut with 11 points in 22 minutes.

"They've got to be aware of him on the outside," Barnes said of Olynyk. "It opens up more driving lanes, more kick-outs, defense collapse, kick out to one mores. ... It just gives more space and gives more flow to our offense."

Agbaji’s biggest impact should come on the other end. He took over as Toronto’s point of attack defender on the second unit and looked comfortable in some tough matchups. He smothered a Caris LeVert layup attempt in the first and looked OK the rest of the night.

“My goal with Ochai is to see Ochai from his last year in college. I’d like to see that type of that he was bringing there (at) University of Kansas, just competiveness, and defensive effort,” Rajaković said pre-game. “I really expect him to help our defense and to be one of our better defenders, bring that kind of tenacity that I know that he has.”

Offensively, Agbaji is a work-in-progress, but he should fit in as a valuable cutter who can take on contact in the paint. He’ll need to work on his finishing though and increasing his efficiency as he finished with just eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.

Talent wise, Toronto is still a ways back from the league’s best.

Cleveland had eight players in double figures and Donovan Mitchell barely needed to break a sweat. But at least the Raptors have addressed some needs, adding the kind of floor-spacing big the organization has lacked for years and a defense-first guard who can help fill the void left by OG Anunoby.

In this season, that should be a success.

Up Next: San Antonio Spurs

The Raptors will have Super Bowl Sunday off before hosting Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at 7:30 p.m. ET.