NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors
30 teams, 30 days, and to start off, I will be doing the only team not located within the United States, the Toronto Raptors. Last season, the Raptors went 56-26, achieved the #2 seed in the East behind only the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers and forced a longer series than most believed they would (everybody but me it seemed thought they would get swept). So now, heading into next season without a lot of major changes made, the Raptors look to keep the momentum going.
ADDITIONS: PF/C Jared Sullinger (Boston), C Jakob Poeltl (draft), SF Pascal Siakam (draft), along with a handful of undrafted free agents and guys who have bounced in and out of the league (most notably PG Fred VanVleet of Wichita State).
SUBTRACTIONS: C Bismack Biyombo (Orlando), PF Luis Scola (Brooklyn), F James Johnson (Miami), PF Anthony Bennett (Brooklyn), PF Jason Thompson (China)
RESIGNED: SG DeMar DeRozan
Overall, not a very busy offseason for the Raptors, but that DeMar DeRozan deal was vital for the future of the franchise. Had he signed somewhere else, such as the Lakers, the Raptors would likely start looking for takers for players such as Kyle Lowry or Jonas Valanciunas and began a rebuild, or they would have made a desperation move to try to keep the run going with different pieces. With DeRozan in the fold, the Raptors still have a window to (maybe) make the Eastern Conference Finals while the rest of the conference (outside of Cleveland and Boston) is still on the rise and not ready to be a true contender yet. Adding Jared Sullinger is also an improvement over Luis Scola, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab the starting role and have Patrick Patterson come off the bench. I think some people see the drafting of Poeltl and letting Biyombo walk cancel each other out, but these guys are different players. Poeltl is more like Valanciunas than Biyombo, and the Raptors lose a lot of rim protection. However, it was smart by GM Masai Ujiri to not be suckered in to paying Biyombo the money Orlando did.
PLAYER TO WATCH: G/F Norman Powell. It's time to see if this guy can take the success he had at the end of last season and keep it rolling this season. When DeMarre Carroll was injured, he was a key cog in making up for his loss, and even started 24 games as a rookie. He is one of those jack-of-all-trades players, who can play defense, make smart decisions, pass, hit 3's, and take it to the hole, and any team could use a player with his skill set. It will be interesting to see if he keeps it going this season.
BIGGEST CONCERN: The lack of depth on the Raptors is a bit concerning, as well as the lack of shot-blocking. If anybody on the Raptors were to get injured this season, it could wind up costing them a few games and some playoff seeding. The Raptors only go 8-10 deep, and playing short rotations for extended stretches usually does not work well, so it is vital for everybody to stay relatively healthy. With shot-blocking, the whole point of bringing in Bismack Biyombo last offseason was to create some form of post defense, and with him gone that leaves with him. Poeltl, Valanciunas, Patterson and Sullinger all can block shots, but none of them do it at a consistent pace like Biyombo. Am I nit picking? Yes, but that's what you have to do with very good teams in order to find weaknesses.
BIGGEST UNKNOWN: I have two, it is C Lucas Nogueira and SF Bruno Caboclo. Both of these guys have been on the end of the bench and/or in the D-League for the last two seasons and have had roster spots held for them in that stretch. Neither has had a real impact on the Raptors' success, and it may be time for Ujiri and head coach Dwane Casey to see if these guys are actually worth holding onto long term. Nogueira could be a quality big in the NBA and provide some depth up front, so it's hard to see them letting him go. But with Caboclo, all I ever have heard about him is potential, potential, potential, and nothing else has ever arisen. He still is that guy that is "two years away from being two years away" and that may never change. This is the year where the Raptors need to decide if it is time to move on.
STARTING FIVE: C Jonas Valanciunas, PF Jared Sullinger, SF DeMarre Carroll, SG DeMar DeRozan, PG Kyle Lowry
ROTATIONAL PIECES: PG Cory Joseph, SF Terrence Ross, PF Patrick Patterson, SG Norman Powell, C Jakob Poeltl
ROUNDING OUT THE ROSTER: PG Delon Wright, SF Pascal Siakam, C Lucas Nogueira, SF Bruno Caboclo, PG Fred VanVleet
PREDICTION: Overall, the Raptors still do have one of the better rosters in the East, and are likely a lock for the postseason. They have two All-Stars in Lowry and DeRozan, a potential All-Star in Valanciunas, and quality rotational pieces around them. Don't be surprised if Delon Wright or Fred VanVleet crack the rotation and provide quality minutes this season. I think anywhere from the 2-4 seed is likely where the Raptors are headed, and between 47 and 59 wins. The Eastern Conference Finals is possible, but the Finals is impossible until somebody this side of the Mississippi finds a way to stop LeBron James from getting there.
