7 X-factors who could shape the 2020-21 NBA season

1. OG Anunoby

The Toronto Raptors have been home to some of the best development stories in all of basketball. First in the spotlight came Pascal Siakam in helping Toronto to a title. Next came Fred VanVleet to spark a surprising championship defense. All signs point to OG Anunoby being next in line and it’s not difficult to see why that could be a realistic possibility.

At 39.0 percent from beyond the arc on over three attempts per game a season ago, Anunoby has already found a spot on the Raptors’ offense as someone who can stretch a defense. But like Siakam before him, OG is evolving to include more self-created looks like the one below from Toronto’s preseason opener against Charlotte.

Anunoby is a multi-faceted defender with the length and athleticism to stay alongside opposing perimeter players and the size to wrestle down near the rim.

In a desperate attempt to keep their season alive in Game 6 of the Raptors’ second-round clash with Boston, Nick Nurse trotted Anunoby out at center. His versatility snuffed out any hope the Celtics had at creating mismatches and the Raptors emerged with a hard-fought double-overtime victory thanks in large part to it.

As the Raptors enter the new season, the novelty act is likely to become a rotational staple for the reigning Coach of the Year. The departures of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka leave Toronto thin upfront. Anunoby functioning as the tallest Raptor offers similar benefits to the ones Golden State collects from Draymond. Suddenly, the league’s second-best defense capable of adjusting defensive principles to fit their opposition adds another layer of potential strategies.

Siakam and VanVleet parlayed breakout seasons into massive contracts. Assuming he holds off on an extension, Anunoby can be in line for a similar payday as a legitimate candidate to earn either Most Improved and/or All-Defensive honors.

And the Raptors will once again be in line for a top spot in the Eastern Conference.