Toronto Raptors: 2017-18 NBA season preview

The Toronto Raptors have been one of the more stable rosters in the league over the last few years, for better and for worse. Will a relatively active offseason push them to another level in 2017-18, or will they slide back?

The summer of 2017 had long been viewed as the crossroads of the Toronto Raptors’ future. Ahead on one path was a commitment to Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and second-tier Eastern Conference status. The other promised a rebuild; surely Masai Ujiri would not settle for mediocrity.

In reality, Toronto’s brilliant general manager settled for neither. By bringing back Lowry and Ibaka on three-year deals, the Raptors can continue to contend while remaining flexible. On top of that, Ujiri’s ancillary moves in the draft, on the trade market and in free agency have already brightened the Raptors’ future.

That does not mean that the team will be better in 2017-18. There was not necessarily a net-increase in talent, and Toronto is now predominantly comprised of pre-prime and tail-end prime guys. Their next immediate career phase difficult to predict. In our 2017-18 season preview, we try to make sense of those variables.

2016-17 Vitals

51-31, 2nd in Atlantic Division, 3rd in Eastern Conference
106.9 PPG (10th)/102.6 OPP PPG (8th)
109.8 Offensive Rating (6th)/104.9 Defensive Rating (T-8th)

Team Leaders
Scoring:  DeMar DeRozan, 27.3 PPG
Rebounding:  Jonas Valanciunas, 9.5 RPG
Assists:  Kyle Lowry 7.0 APG
Steals:  Kyle Lowry, 1.5 SPG
Blocks:  Lucas Nogueira, 1.6 BPG

Honors
All-NBA Third Team:  DeMar DeRozan