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Toronto Raptors: Who wins each award at the midseason mark?

By Thomas Valentine

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: The Toronto Raptors pose for a photo with their 2019 Championship Rings prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: The Toronto Raptors pose for a photo with their 2019 Championship Rings prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Fred VanVleet (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player

Sheesh, this is a tough one. Even as this is being tabled, I’m still unsure of who to pick for this award for a multitude of reasons. Here’s why:

Kawhi Leonard.

Okay, here’s really why:

Last season – as good as the Toronto Raptors collectively were – they were able to lean on the play of the best basketball player on the planet. Leonard was a mythical God amongst mere mortals in most games –, especially in the playoffs. His averages of 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game only furthered the calls that this was one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history.

When Leonard left the Raptors, they were short of one superstar. An irreplaceable presence on the court. A two-way monster that feared no one and created some of the greatest moments in NBA history.

If the Raptors were to compete this year, their talented squad would need to take the next step to improve. They weren’t solely dependant on Leonard, but his play remains the primary reason the Raptors did what they did.

It’s not just Leonard the Raptors were replacing. Danny Green, who was also an integral part of the championship-winning roster, departed for the Los Angeles Lakers. Two starting berths were up for grabs. Fred VanVleet took one, while OG Anunoby reprised his role as the teams starting small forward. Oh, and Pascal Siakam became the bonafide star the Raptors needed him to be.

Even Norman Powell has shown real signs of consistency and the Raptors remain among the elite of the NBA. Out of those four players, one of them has to win the Most Improved Player award.

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Rip the band-aid off. It’s going to Fred VanVleet.

There’s the obvious case for Pascal Siakam. His rise from role-player, to secondary scorer, now to superstar is infectious. It’s unheard of, and quite frankly, it’s one of the best stories to grace the NBA in, sorry for sounding bias, forever.

We’re saving him for a different award and applying a caveat. No one player can win multiple awards. Sorry.

That means Fred VanVleet is still a deserving winner. He’s fit seamlessly into the starting lineup alongside Kyle Lowry and has taken over and gone it alone when the Raptors have needed a surge of scoring. As the latter half of the playoffs proved, Fred VanVleet is clutch – and more than just a black swan.

In his first full season as a starter, VanVleet is averaging 18.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, shooting 40-percent from the field and 39-percent from three. He’s seen his volume and efficiency increase from deep, and become one of the league’s premier marksmen in the NBA. In fact, he’s one of only 14 players in the NBA shooting over 38-percent from three on more than 6.5 attempts per game.

And, as the secondary ball-handler on the team, Fred VanVleet’s 6.7 assists per game rank 13th in the NBA. If that wasn’t enough, he has some of the fastest hands in the league on defense and ranks third in the NBA for steals per game.

For those in the know, Fred VanVleet was already a solid role player coming into this season – now, he’s leading one of the best teams in the NBA and is contending for his first-ever All-Star appearance.

WINNER: FRED VANVLEET

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