Toronto Raptors
Breakout candidate: Scottie Barnes
The Toronto Raptors may not have selected a specific direction toward a build, but they have one player on their roster who can, for the most part, make that decision a whole lot easier for them. And that’s Scottie Barnes. If Barnes has a truly breakout season in his third year in the league, it will completely change the outlook for the franchise. Over the last two summers, the Raptors have refused to include him in packages for Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard. That may end up being the smartest move of the century, but he’ll have to prove that with a truly breakout season.
And Barnes will be set up to do so. With the departure of Fred VanVleet in free agency, Barnes will be set up for success this season in Toronto. He’ll have an expanded role on the offensive end and will need to be more of a playmaker this season if the Raptors are going to factor in the Eastern Conference.
This is not a make-or-break year for Barnes but his future in a lot of ways is going to be decided by what he is and isn’t able to do this season.