The days of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are over. Now it’s the Scottie Barnes Time as far back as the Toronto Raptors are concerned. Emmanuel Quickley And RJ Barrett are decent complementary pieces. Bruce Brown Jr., Jakob Poeltl and Kelly Olynyk have enough experience and craftiness to get the Raptors closer to the NBA Play-In Tournament conversation. The development of Gradey Dick It could be one of many deciding factors, though. As Toronto tries to put the pieces together, it’s a great time to make some bold predictions about the Raptors.
It will be difficult to find more help before training camp for beginners. Birds of prey are shunned by marginal European prospects at this stage of the rebuilding process. Not that Toronto would mind as a loaded 2025 NBA Draft approaches. Yet the latest news surrounding the franchise involves former players faces prison for gambling offencesToronto’s culture needs cleaning up in many ways.
These ten bold predictions about the Raptors becoming winning bets would go a long way in convincing Toronto fans that Masai Uriji is the right man to lead the next championship run.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (Click for a free trial)*
Scottie Barnes Moves Up in All-Star Rankings
Scottie Barnes has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career. Expect him to make a significant jump after averaging 15.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season. The picture is clear now that Anunoby and Siakam are playing elsewhere.
Everyone also understands the new hierarchy. Those wearing We The North gear want to see how far their number one option can go before spending big on a competitive team next summer.
Bold prediction: Barnes is averaging 24 points per game and more than 30 points per 100 possessions. Those numbers would represent a 10 percent increase over his career highs, a good sign ahead of a $38 million salary cap hit next season.
RJ Barrett understands the points award
RJ Barrett has every reason to keep his cool. Zion Williamson was Duke’s main attraction, even though Barrett was the top-ranked player in some rankings. Barrett shared the rest of the spotlight with Cam Reddish and Tre Jones. The 24-year-old now has a clear Robin role to Barnes’ Batman. He also has the green light to establish himself as the team’s leading scorer last season.
Bold prediction: Barrett is proving to be an ideal partner for Barnes, averaging 20+ points per game and 30+ points per 100 possessions.
Immanuel Quickley Silences the Doubters
Immanuel Quickley wasted no time in taking over the offense after being traded to Toronto. The 25-year-old averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 32 games with the Raptors last season. Expect Quickley to settle down a bit, but his per-game production should be enough to keep the critics from getting too loud.
Bold prediction: Toronto’s $175 million point guard is averaging more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game as a speedy playmaker.
Gradey Dick starts strong
Gradey Dick finished his rookie season on a high note. After the All-Star break, he averaged 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 43 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Bold prediction: Dick flirts with a 50/40/90 start in 2024, but cools off after the New Year. The All-Star break helps Dick get back into rhythm, but the second-year sensation is within striking distance of reaching sniper status.
Kelly Olynyk is back above average
Kelly Olynyk is known for being the type of player who can always nail a crucial three-pointer on the road, crushing the hopes of a hostile crowd. Unfortunately, that trait didn’t go down well after he was traded to Toronto. The Canadiens went from shooting 42.9% in 50 games with the Utah Jazz to under 34% in 28 games with the Raptors.
Related NewsThe article continues below
Bold prediction: Olynyk is once again shooting over 40 percent from three-point range, significantly increasing his trade value.
Jakob Poeltl completes the stat sheet
Jakob Poeltl averaging 9.1 points and 8.6 rebounds Last season, he should see his playing time increase over the next 82 games. The 29-year-old is arguably one of the most underrated big men in the game. He’s not the fastest on the court, but he can cover ground on defense, which allowed him to produce 2.2 blocks per game last season. Next year, it’ll be a matter of seeing how far the offense can go.
Bold prediction: Poeltl is averaging a double-double for the first time in his career at age 29.
Raptors qualify for playoffs
With a mix of young talent and veteran players, the Raptors will strike fear into the hearts of several Eastern Conference contenders next season. They will even manage to pick up a few wins against the top six seeds, creating a situation where management won’t end the NBA playoff race at the trade deadline.
Sure, Toronto was 11 games behind the 10th-ranked Atlanta Hawks last spring. Well, Atlanta let go of an All-Star and still has to appease Trae Young. The Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards are all eagerly awaiting the next two NBA drafts.
Bold prediction: Despite a competitive Eastern Conference at the top, the Raptors will secure a playoff spot after the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls begin selling off assets.
