NBA New Season Team Preview: Toronto Raptors – Young Talent Takes the Reins, Barnes’ Performance Worth Watching

The new NBA season is about to begin, and today we introduce you to the young team from the Eastern Conference — the Toronto Raptors.

Team Recap from Last Season:

The Raptors embarked on a rebuilding path last season, trading away Anunoby and Siakam midway through the season, marking the official start of the Barnes era. The team finished with a record of 25 wins and 57 losses, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference and missing out on the play-in tournament. This result was expected, given that the team had just entered the rebuilding phase, but they also acquired young talents like Quickley and Barrett.

Offseason Changes:

In the offseason, the Raptors secured a max contract with Barnes for five years and up to $270 million, solidifying him as the new cornerstone of the team. They then signed Quickley to a five-year, $175 million deal, securing the starting point guard position for the future. Alongside Canadian Barrett, these players are the focus of the Raptors’ development. General Manager Masai Ujiri, when announcing the retirement of Vince Carter’s No. 15 jersey, stated: “The torch has been passed to young players like Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley.”

Beyond solidifying the core lineup, the Raptors selected Kobe Walter with the 19th pick in the draft, a player with promising shooting ability who could see more playing time. Additionally, the Raptors traded for Mitchell Jr., signed Temple and Fernando to one-year contracts, and exercised Brown’s contract.

Team Outlook for the New Season:

General Manager Masai Ujiri discussed the team’s goals for the new season during media day, stating: “We will continue to rebuild; this is a clear path forward.”

However, looking at the Raptors’ roster, their approach to rebuilding is not about consistently losing games but rather providing young players with opportunities to develop. Unlike other teams aiming to change their fate through the draft, the Raptors have already identified their core group centered around Barnes, Quickley, and Barrett. Supporting them are capable players like Diakite, Agbaji, and Walter in the backcourt, and Poirier, Olynyk, and Boucher in the frontcourt, along with Brown and Temple.

This lineup has the potential to be competitive, at least enough to vie for a play-in spot in the East, and even a chance to make the playoffs. Among them, Barnes is particularly worth watching, having already made the All-Star team last season. The team has high expectations for him, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to showcase his abilities.

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Quickley, Diakite, Barrett, Barnes, Poirier

Predicted Regular Season Ranking:

10th to 12th in the East