Fansided

3 teams exposed in the NBA Playoffs that need a rebuild

By Michael Shearer

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is fouled by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks as Mitchell Robinson #23 defends during game three of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is fouled by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks as Mitchell Robinson #23 defends during game three of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammate Pascal Siakam #43 against the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammate Pascal Siakam #43 against the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) /

2. Toronto Raptors

It’s time to call it: the all-wing lineup is dead. Not making it past the play-in is a pretty good indicator that the roster is fundamentally and irrevocably flawed.

The idea became too myopic. Grabbing switchy defenders at every position with overlapping and versatile abilities sounds good in theory, but the game of basketball requires some stratification in roles. Size doesn’t make a position; Nikola Jokic is effectively a point guard, and Gary Payton II is an undersized center. Skills make a position, and the Raptors, in their rush to find guys decent at everything, ended up with a team that was good at nothing (outside of winning the turnover battle).

Fred VanVleet struggled this year under one of the heaviest burdens in the league. He’s still a good point guard, but the Raptors desperately need to find another plus passer and ballhandler. Siakam can do in a pinch, and Barnes showed some superb playmaking flashes, but neither player is comfortable setting up an offense the way the Raptors need. Even VanVleet is likely best used as a combo guard who can play on and off the ball.

Defensively, the Raptors improved with the addition of rim-protector Jakob Poeltl at the trade deadline, but he’s a free agent now. Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. (the only reliable shooter on the roster) are both likely to opt out and become free agents, as well, which could leave the Raptors with — gasp — no guards and no centers on their roster, again!

Toronto has already made its first move, firing coach Nick Nurse amidst locker-room turmoil and an inability to develop young talent. Who they hire next could be a key indicator of what direction they want to go in.

The Raptors are one of the few teams with the defensive personnel to absorb an offensive-first guard if need be, particularly if they re-sign Poeltl (although that will create spacing issues yet again). And unlike the other teams above, the Raptors have plenty of ammunition to trade. With Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and picks, the Raps have big names and assets that should be attractive to teams. It’s unlikely the Raptors will move off of Barnes, whom they hold in extremely high esteem, but Masai Ujiri is not prone to sentimentality. If Barnes is the bait to land an even bigger fish, he won’t hesitate to cast the line.

It’s more likely, however, the Raptors will explore the trade market for Siakam and O.G. first. The Raptors have a chasm-deep need for guards who don’t shoot like drunken cowboys shakily slinging pistols. The bench as a whole needs a dramatic upgrade, as well.

The Raptors aren’t in a bad spot, but it’s difficult to predict which direction they will go. No matter what happens, though, they should look substantially different in the coming year.

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