Toronto Raptors starting lineup: Ranking the starting 5
By Duncan Smith
Toronto Raptors starter No. 2: Fred VanVleet
The time has come for Fred VanVleet to take his rightful spot as the second-best player on the Toronto Raptors roster and the best player in the backcourt. This isn’t a slight on Kyle Lowry, mind you. Lowry is the greatest player in Raptors franchise history and still sets the tempo for the team on and off the floor, but VanVleet has a nice big contract that he has earned every dollar of and is rounding into his prime. One day this will be Siakam and VanVleet’s team, and it will be because they grew into those roles.
Related Story. Raptors: What would a trade for James Harden look like?. light
Toronto Raptors starter No. 3: Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry is still the straw stirring the drink in Toronto (or Tampa Bay, or wherever the Raptors play). He’s aging out of his top-two or three role on this team, but he’s still the man. His offensive production might be on a gentle decline, but his defense is still sturdy and reliable, and the intangibles are legendary. The duo of Lowry and VanVleet make up one of the most impactful backcourts in the NBA, and the Raptors are going to be a dangerous team once again because of them.