NBA Analyst Calls for Raptors To Be Stripped of 1st Round Pick for Blatant Tanking

The Toronto Raptors’ 105-102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers should’ve been just another loss in a rough season. But it is hard not to notice when key players were benched in crunch time.

Well, one NBA analyst, Alec Sturm, couldn’t take anymore. And he didn’t hold back, blasting the Raptors for what he called “intentional tanking” and even suggesting they should lose their first-round pick.

Raptors Deploy ‘Preseason Rotations in a Regular Season Game”

Sturm took to Twitter after the game. He went off about how Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl—who had each played over 25 minutes—were mysteriously absent in the final minutes of a one-possession game.

Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl have each played 25+ minutes and are absent on the floor with just minutes left in a one-possession game.

These are preseason rotations in a regular season game. I've never seen it before.

— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) March 17, 2025

“These are preseason rotations in a regular-season game. I’ve never seen it before,” Sturm tweeted, clearly frustrated. And it wasn’t just the odd substitutions. The Raptors, who had a 16-point lead at one point, seemingly gave away the game down the stretch.

While Toronto fans might not love the accusations, there’s no denying what this loss does for their draft odds. Strum even tweeted that the Raptors should be “stripped” of their draft pick: “The Raptors should be stripped of their first-round draft pick for this kind of intentional tanking. Sitting your best player — who is healthy and had played all game — at the end of the game is against the competitive spirit of the game.”

The Raptors should be stripped of their first-round draft pick for this kind of intentional tanking.

Sitting your best player — who is healthy and had played all game — at the end of the game is against the competitive spirit of the game.

— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) March 17, 2025

The team is now 24-44 and in prime position for a high lottery pick. It’s a rough season, but securing a better shot at a top prospect might be worth the short-term frustration.

A Loss That Works in the Raptors’ Favor

With the Raptors slipping from fifth to seventh in the lottery standings after a brief winning streak, this loss puts them right back in the mix for a better pick.

But was it just a bad night or a calculated move? Blatant tanking and sitting healthy starters in a winnable game isn’t a great look.

Portland’s Anfernee Simons took full advantage on the court, dropping 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. Toumani Camara added 21, while Shaedon Sharpe chipped in 17. For Toronto, Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji led with 19 apiece, while Barnes put up 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists—including a wild full-court dime.

But if you are the Raptors, things aren’t getting any easier. They are facing upcoming matchups against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. More losses seem inevitable—but whether they’re natural or “strategic” is up for debate.