Ex-Raptors success highlights what could have been

In the summer of 2022, the Toronto Raptors seemed poised to extend their competitive window. Coming off a surprising 48-win season and playoff appearance, the glow of the 2019 championship still lingered, and optimism was high that a full-scale rebuild could be avoided.

There was good reason for hope. Scottie Barnes, the prized pick from the 2021 draft, had just been named Rookie of the Year. Pascal Siakam earned All-NBA honors again at 28, and Fred VanVleet had made his first All-Star appearance. OG Anunoby, while still awaiting league-wide recognition, was already known as a top-tier defender and would go on to earn All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2022-23. Despite flaws — mainly a lack of depth, size, and consistent shooting — the Raptors had talent and experience.

Yet, just two years later, the core that once held so much promise is gone, now starring for other teams. VanVleet signed with Houston and helped guide a young team to 52 wins and the No. 2 seed in the West. Closer to home, Siakam and Anunoby are now rivals in the Eastern Conference Finals, leading the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, respectively.

It’s hard not to wonder what could have been. If the Raptors had kept their core of VanVleet, Siakam, Anunoby, Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl, they might have contended in an Eastern Conference that remains wide open. But concerns lingered — especially with spacing and cost — and behind the scenes, chemistry eroded. Tensions between Barnes and VanVleet, Anunoby’s dissatisfaction with his offensive role, Siakam’s contract frustrations, and head coach Nick Nurse’s reluctance to address team dynamics all contributed to the unraveling. Injuries exposed the thin bench, and misfires in player development left the team without cheap, reliable depth.

Efforts were made to salvage the core — including a pivotal meeting in Miami in 2022 with Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster — but no lasting commitment emerged. VanVleet and Siakam rejected extensions, and Anunoby was headed toward free agency.

Ultimately, the Raptors pivoted. Anunoby was dealt to the Knicks, and Siakam to the Pacers, bringing back RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, draft capital, and eventually Brandon Ingram. Whether those returns match the production of the departed stars remains to be seen. Ingram, in particular, will need to stay healthy to justify the move.

The Raptors, now rebuilding around Barnes and a younger, deeper roster, will enter next season with a high payroll and expectations to match. Encouragingly, head coach Darko Rajaković has instilled a team-oriented culture, with the Raptors setting franchise records in assists. But results matter, and as their former stars thrive elsewhere, Toronto’s path forward must now deliver more than good vibes.

The bar is high — and it’s been set by those who used to wear Raptors red.

Reno Silva/MS