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NBA: Power Ranking Every Team’s Starting Frontcourt Entering 2016-17

By Tony Webb

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 2, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Louis Williams (23, left), center Jonas Valanciunas (17, center), and forward Patrick Patterson (54, right) react on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Raptors 126-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Louis Williams (23, left), center Jonas Valanciunas (17, center), and forward Patrick Patterson (54, right) react on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Raptors 126-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Toronto Raptors

Projected Starting Frontcourt: DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson/Jared Sullinger, Jonas Valanciunas

Speaking of teams that rely heavily on their frontcourt, the Raptors certainly need a step-up from their frontcourt. Valanciunas made big strides in the playoffs and had an impressive 22.6 PER last season, but he is also only 24 years old and still finding himself as a true NBA center.

DeMarre Carroll was plagued by injury in his first Raptors season and looks to be the solid contributor he was in Atlanta. Patrick Patterson is not a good NBA player; his PER is well below league average and his shooting percentage has dropped every year in his three years in Toronto.

Free agent signee Jared Sullinger will most likely find his way into starting eventually which is an upgrade over Patterson and Luis Scola. His shooting is decent and if he can keep his drive and shape up, he could contribute. Raptors didn’t address their power forward problem very well and it puts them in the bottom half of the ranking.

Next: No. 22