The Toronto Raptors are already putting in their offseason work. In an effort to get better, here is what each player can improve before the season begins.
The Toronto Raptors are returning next season to defend their championship. It’s an uphill battle with only three-fifths of the title-winning starting lineup. To make things even more difficult, the Raptors have lost the best player to ever wear their jersey, Kawhi Leonard.
The Raptors won’t dwell on the players that have joined other organizations. They have many key players still on the roster and should remain an above-average team in a weak Eastern Conference. To compete with the best in the East, each player must put in the work to upgrade their skills.
The Raptors as a team have already begun taking steps toward finding the players that will allow them to be successful next season. Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster will not be able to replace the superstardom that Leonard provided, but they have had a focus on what they believe the team could use in order to win games.
Based on their free-agent acquisitions, it’s apparent that defence is a priority. The Raptors have added Dewan Hernandez, Stanley Johnson, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson whose greatest assets are their stopping abilities. The hope is that they will find a way to compete well enough on offense to be a great team. In order to do that, they’ll certainly need to make improvements in a few areas.
The players have already begun their offseason training. Throughout the summer they are working on progressing their development.