Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a team that should be kept a close eye on heading into this season. They have the recipe to be another dark horse contender in the Eastern Conference. They have a veteran star (Pascal Siakam), a young budding star with unlimited potential (Scottie Barnes), a relatively deep roster, and one of the best coaches in the league.
The Raptors came on strong during the second half of last season and if they can pick up where they left off, along with some further progression from a few of their players, they should be right in the thick of the top of the conference.
On paper and right now, it’s hard to argue that the Raptors are better than the likes of the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks, but they may be in a tier right below them. And if Barnes makes a big jump, perhaps on the cusp of contention.