NAGDIRIWANG pa ang Toronto Raptors sa Las Vegas matapos makopo ang kanilang kauna-unahang NBA championship, nang bulagain ng balitang nakuha na ng Los Angeles Lakers ang serbisyo ni Anthony Davis.

Tila biglang nagising ang pamunuan ng Raptors. At kinakailangan na nilang bumalik sa realidad. Realidad na kailangang asikasuhin ang mga manlalarong mage-expire ang kontrata at mga manlalarong kanilang posibleng kunin sa draft o sa trade.

Pero, ayon kay Raptors coach Nick Nurse, nagsimula na silang mag-usap ni general manager Bobby Webster hinggil sa komposisyon ng team sa susunod na season.

“Bobby and I have already had two meetings about it since the championship,” lahad ni Nurse. “The reality is that it’s right upon us, and we get to work. I’ve got several meetings today with some players. We don’t have any choice but to get to work on it. My thought, always, is stay hungry. We’ve got to get our guys that we want back.”

At isa sa prayoridad ng Toronto ay ang mapanatili sa roster si Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, na inaasahang pakakawalan ang natitira niyang kontrata para maging free agent.

Maging ang mga kasama ni Leonard ay nais na manatili siyang Raptors.

“We definitely want him back,” ngawa ni Raptors forward Pascal Siakam.

“I don’t think there’s any other player of his caliber right now in the NBA,” ani Gasol. “He’s on a pedestal by himself.”

Sinabi naman Danny Green, na matagal nang teammate ni Leonard, anuman ang magiging desisyon nito ay tiyak na makaaapekto sa buong koponan.

“Let’s not be foolish,” esplika ni Green. “His decision affects a lot of guys’ decisions. He can change a whole organization.”

Sa Lunes (Martes sa Manila), inaasahang magsasalita si Raptors President Masai Ujiri sa gaganaping parade ng koponan sa labas ng Toronto city hall.

Aminado rin si Nurse, na wala siyang ideya sa magiging desisyon ni Leonard.

“I don’t really know,” wika ni Nurse. “I know’s he’s got to make a decision here really soon, couple of weeks. I think he had a good season and people like him here, and we can give him a good deal.”