2019–2020 NBA Season Previews: Toronto Raptors
Head Coach: Nick Nurse
Last Season: 58–24, 2nd in Eastern Conference
Projected Starters:
- PG: Kyle Lowry
- SG: Norman Powell
- SF: O.G. Anunoby
- PF: Pascal Siakam
- C: Marc Gasol
Additions: O’Shae Brissett (R), Terence Davis (R), Dewan Hernandez (R), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, Matt Thomas (R).
Losses: Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Jeremy Lin, Jordan Loyd, Jodie Meeks, Eric Moreland.
The Toronto Raptors return almost the exact same core from last season, except one problem: arguably the best player in franchise history and the man who played a big role in bringing the Raptors their first championship, Kawhi Leonard, is gone.
After trading for Leonard last off-season in a surprise move, Toronto went on to defeat to the Warriors in the NBA Finals. While Leonard is gone and off to Los Angeles, not all hope is lost for the Canadian franchise.Even without Leonard, the Raptors are still a talented bunch more than capable of returning to the playoffs and earning home-court advantage in the playoffs.
The Raptors will rely on their veterans and he improvement of several role players to try to return to the promised land. The leader of the Raptors core is point guard Kyle Lowry. After years of being scrutinized for poor playoff performances and constantly falling short in the postseason to Cleveland, Lowry finally broke through last year. Lowry’s numbers in the regular season took a dip, as he posted his worst point per game total since his first year in Toronto and saw his field goal percentage dip. Regardless, Lowry was still the 15th best player in the league last year according to PIPM. That number may not tel the whole story, but it does depict Lowry as an elite two-way guard who can lead a team on both sides of the ball. Many believed that Lowry would be traded this season, but after signing a one-year, $31 million extension, those chances took a major hit.
While Lowry is the leader of the team, Pascal Siakam could be the best player at the Raptors disposal. Siakam took Most Improved Player of the Year honors last season and emerged as one of the best two-way players in the league. Offensively, Siakam is not your prototypical workhorse or first option. He still struggles to hit 3-pointers, and although he hit 36% of them in the regular season last year, those numbers declined in the playoffs. Still, even with increased usage, Siakam increased his offensive output and efficiency. He uses his athleticism and speed to get to the basket and finish at the rim and improved his jumpshot compared to his first two seasons.
As good as Siakam is on offense, his calling card is on defense. The 6-foot-9 forward has a 7-foot-3 wingspan that allows him to disrupt opponents and cover a lot of ground. Siakam has the best defensive rating of any players on the Raptors last season and has improved his defense every year since entering the league. With Leonard, Siakam will draw the toughest assignment every night. This is a task Siakam should be up to, as he is an excellent defender on and off the ball. He has good anticipation on that end and constantly makes timely plays.
Veterans Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol return as well, as both are coming off resurgent seasons. This is especially the case for Ibaka, who scored, rebounded and defended better than he has in years. The Congo-born big man held opponents to just 52.6% shooting at the rim, which is one of the top totals in the league. Ibaka should continue to fill in as he starting power forward and backup center. Ibaka and Gasol were able to fluctuate at center, giving the Raptors far more versatility with their lineups.
With Gasol, he continued to showcase why is he one of the most skilled centers in the NBA. Gasol arrived and immediately became the backbone of the Raptors defense. His skillset, intelligence and experience immediately helped propel the Raptors forward. While he isn’t as great of a postup threat as he once was, his crafty passing and 3-point shooting abilities fit right in with the Toronto offensive scheme.
Rounding out the Raptors lineup, role players Norman Powell and OG Anunoby replace Danny Green and Leonard. Powell doesn’t have much experience as a starter, and hasn’t started many games since his rookie year. With Green gone, the Raptors found an internal replacement in Powell who fills out as a 3-and-D type player. He won’t bring the same production as Green, and not much should he expected of him as a starting two guard.Powell shot a career-best 40% from deep last year, and should have a higher volume this season with an expanded role. The UCLA product has also shown an ability to step up in the clutch and hit timely shots, as he hit 38.7% of his triples in 23 playoff games. The Raptors will hope that Powell can continue to increase his projection and come through in crunch time with more minutes.
Looking at Anunoby, he is a former first- round pick with a lot to prove this year. Anunoby struggled with injuries last year but still showed flashes of potential on both ends. The Indiana product returns to he starting lineup at small forward this year and looks to prove his worth in the Raptor frontcourt. He projects as a solid defender who can knock down an occasional long distance shot. Overall, while the championship hangover will he still be lingering, the pressure is now off this Raptors core. While there is an urge to defend the title, many people are already counting this Raptors team out, which eliminates any pressure.
X-Factor: Fred VanVleet
VanVleet put on a great performance last year and solidified himself as one of the best backup guards in the entire NBA. VanVleet averaged 11 points and 4.8 assists per game last season, and he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. After starting the playoffs in a slump, the crafty point guard went on a tear following the birth of his child. He shot 52.6% from 3-point range and played stifeling defense on Steph Curry to the point where he got a Finals MVP vote.
VanVleet took more pullup jumpers and was in the 76th percentile in isolation scoring. He was also in charge of a clunky bench lineup, and given that he had elevated playmaking responsibilities, VanVleet saw less catch-and-shoot opportunities. VanVleet also took more mid-range shots than he ever has, which caused his efficiency to drop. Look for the Raptors to try to get VanVleet more off-ball looks this season.
Questions:
What will Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson contribute?
The Raptors bring in six new players, and the only two that are not rookies are Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson. Both of these players will look to provide quality depth for the Raptors at the forward spots.
Johnson has failed to live up to expectations as a former lottery pick. Now on his third team after going from Detroit to New Orleans, Johnson brings lockdown defense and top-tier athleticism to the table. Johnson can lock up threes or fours on the perimeter and can be switched on to anybody. He’ll have a significant role on the Raptors in terms of providing frontcourt depth and bringing defense off the bench.
Offense is where Johnson has had issues. Last season, Johnson had the worst Offensive PIPM rating in the entire NBA (-4.5). Johnson has a career slashline of just 37–29–76 and has yet to average more than 10 points per game. If he can figure out his shot, the 23-year-old could carve out a bigger role for himself in Toronto.
Hollis-Jefferson is similar to Johnson in that he provides defense, rebounding and energy. RHJ is a scrappy and versatile defender who will serve as the backup power forward for the Raptors. He isn’t the best shooter, but also doesn’t shoot a lot of outside looks. After coming off his worst season offensively, Hollis-Jefferson will look to improve his efficiency in Toronto while continuing to provide quality defense.
Will they keep this core or tear the roster down this season?
The Raptors must decide if they’re going to try to get something back for Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka or any other veteran pieces. If this team gets off to a slow start, don’t be surprised if the front office starts to sell the veteran pieces to contenders. Even if they keep this core all year, the Raptors are still looking at a rebuild next off-season.
Verdict:
As they stand, the Raptors are a top five team in the Eastern Conference and have a second round peak. Considering that they aren’t title contenders anymore, the thought of a rebuild is looming over the organization. Given how much talent they do still have, however, expect this team to compete and fight for home court advantage in the playoffs.
