The Toronto Raptors are paying a excessive wage and should produce outcomes this season.
The Raptors will overcome the posh tax heading into the 2025-26 season, nevertheless it’s not a house for a crew that simply received the lottery a season in the past.
The Raptors have parted methods with crew president Masai Ujiri and entered a brand new period beneath Bobby Webster, who the crew has promoted to CEO.
If the Raptors do not present vital enchancment beneath Darko Rajkovic this season, huge adjustments could possibly be coming.
NBA evaluation We preview three of essentially the most thrilling Raptors gamers to look at this season.
RJ Barrett is coming off the most effective season of his profession with the Raptors.
He averaged 21.1 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 58 video games, main the crew in scoring.
Barrett has been constantly aggressive and in assault mode, which has produced many huge performances from him.
The largest query is how Barrett will match into Toronto’s present core. Will his skillset change into redundant, or will he thrive alongside the Raptors’ different prime stars? Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he suits into the Raptors’ new beginning lineup.
If issues do not go as deliberate for the Raptors, Barrett can be the most certainly commerce candidate given the crew’s monetary scenario.
The Raptors traded Brandon Ingram eventually season’s commerce deadline, which was a shock.
It was an attention-grabbing win-now transfer from a crew within the early phases of a rebuild. Regardless of this, Ingram stays locked in Toronto after signing a three-year, $120 million contract.
Ingram’s profession has been overshadowed by accidents. The 28-year-old hasn’t performed greater than 64 video games since his rookie season.
He was named to the Pelicans’ All-Star crew in 2019-20, however has not been in a position to return to All-Star type since then.
However in Toronto, Ingram has an opportunity to rejuvenate his profession. He stays one of many recreation’s main pure scorers and would give the Raptors their first true go-to possibility since Kawhi Leonard.
If Ingram can keep wholesome, he ought to have the ability to change into the point of interest of the offense. This could possibly be an opportunity for Ingram to get his profession again on observe, and if issues go effectively, he could possibly be named an All-Star this season.
Scottie Barnes wants a bounce-back season.
His defensive efforts had been spectacular, however his offensive numbers declined.
Within the 2024-25 season, he averaged 19.3 factors, however his variety of pictures decreased from the earlier 12 months. Barnes shot 44.6 % from the sector, however his 3-point proportion plummeted to 27.1 %.
Barnes regressed offensively in comparison with his All-Star season. The hope now could be that Barnes can complement Ingram and make issues look simpler with Ingram getting essentially the most consideration.
Barnes’ playmaking and defensive versatility are his strengths, however he must be extra aggressive with the basketball.
When Barnes selected to assault the rim extra as a substitute of settling for 3-point pictures, his offensive recreation was far more efficient.
Barnes stays one of many brightest younger gamers within the recreation, and the Raptors want him to return to his elite two-way play if they’re to achieve success this season. If that occurs, he could possibly be chosen as an All-Star once more this season.
