The Toronto Raptors seemingly have a roster ready to add a star, and this offseason could be a massive stepping stone for the organization.
The Toronto Raptors, this season, missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. After winning the NBA Finals in 2019, Toronto parted ways with OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell, all of whom played massive roles on playoff teams.
While Toronto is lagging behind most of the Eastern Conference, there is reason to believe that they could be massive players this offseason.
With talents like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, the always-underrated Jakob Poeltl, and Brandon Ingram, who is yet to play a game for them, Toronto could compete for a playoff spot.
However, offseason reports suggest that the Raptors aren’t content with just competing, and they want to be the favorites next season.
After adding Ingram last season in a future-driven trade, it was clear that the former All-Star would not play at all that year, although, once he got healthy, the Raptors were expected to take the next step.
Ingram has never been the true first option on a playoff team, and the savvy Raptors don’t expect him to play that role. Rather, Toronto seemingly expects Ingram and Barnes to be supporting players for a superstar.
“The Raptors are a team that is starting to make noise within the league about looking for a big fish,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “If you’re an Eastern Conference team that’s in the middle of the pack, you’re looking at the teams in front of you going, some of them may not be able to stay together.”
After early exits, the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to explore some massive moves, and the Boston Celtics will be without their best player, Jayson Tatum, next year. The East, it would seem, is wide open.
“And so naturally, any team that wants to make a move this summer, especially a team in the Eastern Conference, you’re going to have Giannis on the board,” Windhorst continued. “Teams in the league are getting the impression that Toronto is going to try to do something. I had an executive tell me yesterday that he thinks this could be an explosive summer.”
The Raptors have plenty of options this summer and could be major players next year, even after missing the playoffs.
Depending on how many young assets the Raptors are willing to part with, this could be a massive summer for The Six.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, of course, is the best player included in rumors, although the Raptors might have to part with Barnes to add him. Kevin Durant would be a solid fit, and would be much more affordable, allowing the Raptors to part with only Barrett, some young players, and draft capital.
The free agent class is not the best this year, although Myles Turner and Naz Reid could be lured away from their current teams.
With a healthy Barrett, Quickley, Ingram, Barnes, and Poeltl, Toronto should be in the mix for a playoff spot, and that’s before they make a move to enhance their roster. With the East as wide-open as ever, the Raptors and Masai Ujiri can’t be counted out.
