NBA: 4 non-contenders in the most enviable positions

Toronto Raptors

This is the first team I thought of, the one that truly prompted this exercise. Rookie Scottie Barnes’ supersized point forward game and OG Anunoby’s rise from straps defender to legitimate featured option on offense gives the Raptors great hopes for contention in the next few years.

Anunoby’s lingering hip injury gives the Raptors an excuse to perform a stealth tank job this season, and perhaps trade one of their good players for assets that helps to build that future contender.

While Pascal Siakam doesn’t hold the same value he did entering the 2020 Disney Bubble, he is still a very good player who teams with inferior players on similar contracts would likely give up assets to swap for (Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell, and Harrison Barnes come to mind).

Of course, the Raptors may still be floating around 500. when Anunoby returns to the lineup, and decide to chase a playoff birth without trading rotation players this year. Because of the youth of their core – especially Anunoby and Barnes – and excellent coaching, they will be a great team before too long no matter where their next few draft picks land.