Raptors launch title defense with little respect, few expectations

Storyline 2: Will the Raptors blow it up?

The Toronto Raptors answered one of the questions about their veterans when they came to terms with Kyle Lowry on a one-year extension.

But the team’s other two veterans, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, are both on expiring contracts that Toronto may look to flip somewhere before Feb. 6.

Unlike roughly half the players in the NBA, Gasol and Ibaka can be traded before Dec. 15, but the rest of the league might not have assets — in terms of players, at any rate — that could be sent back to the Raptors.

What is uncertain is whether or not the Raptors have a line in the sand, a point at which they declare it detrimental to keep the vets around, in favor of moving them to contenders for some future assets to put around Pascal Siakam.

Lowry’s extension muddies the salary cap situation for 2020-21 a bit, as the Raptors now have $53.77 million in guaranteed money on the books (Lowry at $30.5 million, Norman Powell at $10.87 million, Patrick McCaw at $4 million and OG Anunoby in the final year of his rookie deal at $3.87 million.

Fred VanVleet is also on an expiring deal and it is likely the Raptors would like to keep him around … at the right price, his cap hold is going to be $17.76 million next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

If Toronto defies expectations and wins big, those plans might go on hold, particularly if it looks like the Raptors have a chance to go deep into the postseason again. The Eastern Conference appears to be a complete crap shoot this season.

Outside of the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, the remaining six playoff teams will come from a group of seven or eight teams.

So even a diminished Raptors club has a solid shot at being a top-four seed this season.

Would that be enough to delay a sell off? Or will president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri opt to try and squeeze another playoff run out of the veterans?