NBA: 11 Players and teams that have gotten off to frighteningly bad starts

Toronto Raptors

Considered a team that needed to make a decision on what their future was going to look like in the next couple of seasons, the first half of the season is expected to map out how the Toronto Raptors operate at the NBA Trade deadline. In short, the Raptors likely needed to get off to a hot start to justify their decisions to not retool their roster around their young core. However, through the first four games of the season, it hasn’t been that easy.

In fact, getting off to a 1-3 start should have the Raptors questioning everything about their immediate future. Realistically, the Raptors are staring 1-5 in the face with games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers on the schedule next. If the Raptors aren’t able to string a few wins together over the next few weeks, a real conversation is going to be had around the availability of both OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam as we inch closer and closer to the NBA Trade deadline.

There was some hope that the Raptors would be able to balance their young core and their veteran difference-makers. So far this season, that hasn’t been the case.