Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Ceiling, floor for Toronto Raptors: Time for a rebuild?

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 10/11/23

Now a half-decade removed from their NBA Finals season in 2018-19, the Toronto Raptors find themselves at a crossroads, grasping onto the idea of remaining a contender.

Ceiling: 45-37 and a return to the postseason

Despite mounds of trade speculation, two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam and wing OG Anunoby remain in Toronto and will once again lead the offensive charge for the Raptors. The former is fresh off a career-best 24.2 PPG scoring campaign, while the latter knocked down at least 38.7 percent of his three-point attempts for the third time in four seasons.

Veteran point guard Dennis Schroder came over from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason to fill the vacancy at point guard left behind by the departed Fred VanVleet. Yet, it'll likely be 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes tasked to serve as the team's dominant ball-handler. Barnes' 4.8 APG average from 2022-23 should skyrocket this season.

Scottie Barnes: “I always been a point guard.”

(via @basketballbuzz)

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 26, 2022

If Barnes takes the leap to stardom and rookie sharpshooter Gradey Dick helps stretch the court for a team that finished third-worst in three-point shooting last season (33.5 percent), Toronto should push for as high as the fifth seed in the East.

Floor: 39-43 as the Siakam and Anunoby trade talks heat up

While VanVleet took a step back in every major shooting category last season, Barnes was not overly efficient, either. The FSU product shot 45.6 percent from the field and only 28.1 percent from three. Replacing VanVleet's championship pedigree and improved playmaking (averaged a career-best 7.2 APG last season) will be a tall task for Barnes, who remains a project at the point guard position.

Scottie Barnes is automatic from the corner.

(via @JLew1050)

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 4, 2023

Toronto is too talented to plummet to the bottom of the Eastern Conference rankings. However, they're not talented enough to compete with the elite teams in the East, such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.

The Raptors have not won a playoff series in three years. If their first half of the season lingers in mediocrity, Siakam and Anunoby could be used as trade chips at the deadline to jump-start a rebuild.

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