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Toronto Raptors: Best-case and worst-case scenario for the 2018-19 season

By Jordan Fleguel

Toronto Raptors - Jurassic Park (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - Jurassic Park (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks goes around Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on February 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bucks defeated the Raptors 122-119 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks goes around Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on February 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bucks defeated the Raptors 122-119 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Worst-case scenario

Immediately after news of the trade broke, there were reports that Leonard was unhappy and had no intention of playing in Toronto.  One report went as far as to say that Leonard would consider sitting out for the season.

The tone has since shifted, and a recent meeting between Leonard and head-coach Nick Nurse – that went swimmingly, according to Nurse – has given Raptors fans hope.  Hope for a civil relationship between Leonard and the organization.

Assuming Leonard plays (a reasonable assumption at this time), the worst-case scenario would be a Leonard that plays with an absent mind and heart.  A Kawhi Leonard ready to bolt to Los Angeles as soon as he possibly can.  If this is the Leonard that the Raptors are receiving, it will be Masai Ujiri’s biggest mistake yet, and the Raptors’ rebuild will have officially begun.

Then there’s the rest of the squad.  We don’t know how this group will gel without the presence of DeRozan and Dwane Casey, but if the team is going to be successful, it must embrace change.

More importantly, Masai Ujiri needs to tread lightly when it comes to Kyle Lowry.  Lowry and DeRozan are close friends, and if DeRozan feels he was treated unfairly by the Raptors front-office, there’s a good chance that Lowry does too.  If Lowry can’t put those feelings aside and quickly adjust to life with his new All-Star teammate, the team won’t get far.

Of course, there are some things that are out of Toronto’s control.  Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid could take huge leaps forward, and become the perennial All-Stars that we all one day expect them to be.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could develop further, with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward making the Celtics impossible to content with.  The Raptors, 76ers, and Celtics are all members of the Atlantic division, so there will be many regular season games with real post-season implications.  They will be very fun to watch.

If the Raptors’ players don’t buy-in to Nick Nurse’s system, and if Kawhi Leonard isn’t comfortable playing alongside his new teammates, the Raptors could find themselves fighting for a playoff spot.  If Leonard and/or Lowry sustain injuries, the Raptors could find themselves out of the playoffs all together.

That would be the worst-case scenario for the Toronto Raptors – missing the playoffs after a 59-win season the year before, forced to begin what would be a long, hard rebuild.

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