The best Toronto Raptors offseason involves little change

With an offseason of uncertainty looming, one thing should remain clear for the Toronto Raptors. The best version of this offseason is one that involves little change.

Sometimes teams catch lightning in a bottle. The Toronto Raptors found themselves on that boat this past season, winning their first ever NBA Championship in their first ever NBA Finals appearance.

Last offseason was one full of change in Toronto. The Raptors traded away their franchise hero — DeMar DeRozan — for a superstar in need of a new home. Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green were traded to Toronto in exchange for DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 first-round pick.

That trade shifted the whole dimension of the Raptors future, immediate and distant. The ceiling of the team was projected in an upward motion, crashing past the expectations of the Raptors of years gone by. A team that was a peripheral contender in the minds of the few was now a fully fledged championship pedigree team. And that was the proclaimation from the minds of many.

Things took time to settle down for the Raptors, they started hot, winning 12 of their first 13 games. It still felt like the team had some way to go until they found the best version of themselves, though.

It took until February at the earliest, for the Raptors to take another step towards the end product. Trading Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, and Delon Wright to acquire Marc Gasol. Big Burrito was the final piece of the puzzle, and the Raptors were ready to take their final form.

What followed was a postseason full of adversity, career-defining moments, and a championship. The end goal for every player in NBA history was achieved. For some, it was the first time. For others, it was their second or third.

Now, all being well, the Raptors have the chance to run it back again. A lot of things will need to go right for that to happen, namely; Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green both returning to the Raptors. As well as Marc Gasol either opting into his player-option or negotiating a new deal for longer security.

Heading into this offseason, the objective of Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster should remain clear.

Keeping this Raptors team together makes the most sense. They proved to be the best team in the NBA once Marc Gasol was acquired in February and not much needs to change on their end for that same outcome.

Pascal Siakam is fresh off of being crowned the Most Improved Player in the NBA, becoming the first ever Toronto Raptor to win the award. It’s fair to say that he could well take another big leap next season, cementing his place as an All-Star and one of the best 25 players in the league.

His ascension eases the concerns around Kyle Lowry, not that there should be any. Even at age-33, Lowry would still project to be one of the more productive guards in the league. Having two elite players who can create offense for themselves doesn’t hurt either.

The Raptors could certainly add some valuable bench depth to their team and using the taxpayer mid-level exception would certainly be a way to achieve that. It’s probable that the likes of Jeremy Lin, Patrick McCaw, and Jodie Meeks move on to other teams. While they might not be tremendous losses, they all proved to be productive players in their own ways and the need to replace them becomes significant if the Raptors want to remain contenders.

It was the bench that saved the Raptors in a few tough spots during the postseason, with Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, and Fred VanVleet all having a big moment or two down the stretch.

Overall though, this team has been through a lot together, culminating in their status as the best team in the NBA. Sure, they’ll tinker. But don’t expect any major splashes. The best version of this team is the one that keeps it’s championship winner core together.