The Toronto Raptors put together the most successful regular season in franchise history with 59 wins. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get a single victory when it mattered the most in the postseason. The Raptors were swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The expectation is that it will lead to major changes for the franchise over the summer. Here is a look at the Raptors game plan for this offseason.
Season Recap
Toronto set franchise records with 57 wins, including 33 at the Air Canada Centre. All of their regular season success led fans to believe this team could finally be poised for a playoff breakthrough in a relatively weaker Eastern Conference. However, the Raptors were no match for the Cavaliers in round two. It didn’t take long for Toronto to fire head coach Dwane Casey after the team was swept from the postseason. However, the changes to this team’s culture likely won’t stop with the insertion of a new head coach.
Free Agency
One of the biggest issues with forcing a major culture change at this point in time is the fact that the entire core of this team is under contract for at least one more season. Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Serge Ibaka and even C.J. Miles are all expected to return barring trades. Fred VanVleet is the only player on the Toronto roster that is set to become a free agent this summer. The Raptors will likely do what it takes to bring him back. That said, Toronto won’t be left with much salary cap space after signing VanVleet, which will limit their potential to shop for unrestricted free agents unless they decide to trade some players currently on their roster.
What They Need
There is no doubt that the Raptors need a major shakeup. While they have consistently enjoyed regular season success, this core group has not made it further than the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers have had a lot to do with that over the years. That said, the way that this postseason came to an end speaks volumes about the predicament the team is in. DeRozan was an All-Star this season but finished the series versus Cleveland stapled to the bench in a key fourth quarter in Game 3 and then was ejected from Game 4. Meanwhile, Ibaka isn’t the same player he was earlier in his career and J.V. is not a star. Toronto could opt to move one or more key pieces in a bid to shake things up with the potential to still land intriguing packages for a player like DeRozan or Valanciunas. A team that led the Eastern Conference with 57 wins isn’t going to completely blow things up. That said, after another disappointing playoff exit it’s clear the time is now for some substantial change in Toronto. The playoff failures speak volumes and will force General Manager Masai Ujiri’s hand. Nobody will be surprised if he was aggressive this offseason and took the necessary steps to substantially alter the nucleus of this team with some blockbuster trade deals.
The Raptors should have a regular season win total in the 50’s heading into next season, according to BetDSI Sportsbook. However, they’ll need to make some big changes if they want to be taken seriously as a playoff contender in the East.
