xar

Working out ideas about a tanking team is always difficult because the players on the team might not stick around long enough to create chemistry with each other, so the ideas always feel short lived. But the Raptors are in a nice spot these days, where the current team right now is likely to be the same team going forward into the next season, so it's safe to say that any pairings I've come up with might last to some extent.

• The most obvious teammate duo is RJ and Quick...but I haven't really thought about them very much. This is because I haven't really been able to see their dynamic due to their injuries. They have a dawg to dawg connection, have history from the Knicks, and grew closer due to the trade. Quick is extroverted, whimsical, and playful, while RJ is also extroverted, funny, and kind of sweetheart coded. They've been a real light on the team, but with the team's impending contract situation, I don't know if RJ will stay. </3
• Ingram and Poeltl...okay listen. Listen. I know what you're thinking. How the hell does Ingram and Jak even fit together personality wise, never mind as a pairing? But a main reason why Ingram wanted to be in Toronto was because of Jakob Poeltl, and he said himself that he was a big fan of the guy. Meanwhile, Jak returned those sentiments, saying that he was excited to play with Ingram (with Ingram in hearing shot on the team bus while he said that). Jak has the potential to have a second bromance now that Pascal is gone, so maybe Ingram could be that guy for him. 
• Scottie, RJ, Quick, and Gradey polycule foursome. This is ambitious but trust me. I think it works. (Or it will once I work out all the wrinkles.) The only two guys on the team that are untouchable are Scottie and Gradey (and Ingram because the Raptors want to test him out). Right now, Scottie always hangs out with Quick (probably because they're both from Miami and live kind of close by to each other). RJ and Quick always reference each other by their "9 to 5" catchphrase because of their jersey numbers. Gradey and Scottie have spent the most time together (two seasons). Quick has a habit of always commenting on Gradey's IG posts. It's really cute how they're kind of in each other's pockets in some way.
• Now...Ja'Kobe and Jamal might be my favourite duo on the team, because they were drafted together this year. They walk into the tunnel together with their rookie hazing pink bags. They always do the conga line with G-Temp with the other rookies. They stand together during the anthem and make faces whenever the admin takes photos of them. They even did a carpool karaoke together. And the dynamic works because Jamal is an extroverted shit talking point guard and Ja'Kobe is an ambitious ambivert guard. Add Mogbo and you have a trio bromance (or a wingman, at the very least).

I think there are more pairings (like Scottie and Ingram, or Jamal and Mogbo, or plane buddies RJ and Jak if you really wanted to go into an interesting angle), but it's probably best to wait until next season when the on court chemistry finally shows. The problem with this year was that a lot of the injuries sidelined the pairings (Quickley being injured, then later Ja'Kobe, and then Scottie), so the team decided to tank, and then an injured Ingram was acquired at the deadline, but he won't play a single game this season.

It's been fun to follow the team this year – but at the same time I have to admit I am a dedicated homer, so I might be a little biased. <3