Toronto Raptors
Losing Kyle Lowry is definitely going to change how we view the Toronto Raptors heading into the new season and while they are coming off their worst year since the 2011-12 season, there is still a lot to like about this group in Toronto.
Pascal Siakam is currently still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and will likely miss the start of the regular season, but he is joined by Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and a handful of other young, versatile players.
Defensively, Toronto has a chance to continue being a force in the Eastern Conference and could be primed to have a massive bounce-back year. In fact, one NBA scout spoke to NBA Analysis Network and offered his opinion on the Toronto Raptors heading into the new season.
When you look at the Toronto Raptors roster heading into this season, it is easy to question their overall depth, but this roster is pretty balanced. Goran Dragic is a key veteran player in their backcourt who will most likely be moved ahead of the NBA trade deadline, but for the time being, he is an excellent addition for this team next to Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn.
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Their frontcourt is actually pretty strong at full-strength too. Pascal Siakam should return a few weeks after the regular season starts and Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, and Scottie Barnes are all key pieces that will be utilized in different roles.
Getting back to their championship ways like in 2019 will definitely be tough to do since the Raptors do not have a Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Lowry-like player anymore, but all-in-all, Toronto is definitely a team that can still contend for a playoff spot in what should be a much improved Eastern Conference.
