6. Toronto Raptors
Falling one game shy of an Eastern Conference Finals appearance after winning a championship and then losing its best player (Kawhi Leonard) is nothing to be ashamed about if you’re the Toronto Raptors.
But heading into 2020-21, there’s no question that this team is going to need some real heavy-lifting from its dynamic trio of Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam to play a factor in the Eastern Conference.
Losing Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol will certainly hurt. This team has a couple of things that really work for them, however. The Raptors are deep (even after losing Gasol and Ibaka) and are one of the best-coached teams in the East. That is a recipe that will keep this team in the playoff window.
I’m not sure this is a top 5 team in the East, but I also believed that last season and they fell one game short of the Eastern Conference Finals.