The Toronto Raptors’ 2020-21 season is now in the books after what was a long, stressful and overall not a very fun season, to say the least. The Raptors have finally completed their 2020-21 season after playing their final game of the 72 game campaign, a loss against the Indiana Pacers at “home”.
The Raptors, as we all know were faced with a tough scenario heading into this season, but the players and staff didn’t want to use that as an excuse if things got tough during this journey to complete the season.
Well, fast forward to the end of the season and they find themselves eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in almost a decade.
With the season in the books, comes the off-season and some decisions the franchise needs to make heading into next season. Which key parts of the organization will be retained, and which ones will end up being cast away as the Raptors look to shake some things up?
"Toronto is always going to be home to me." - Kyle Lowry
— 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 (@AaronBenRose) May 18, 2021
These 3 Toronto Raptors signings could help the team long-term.
1. C Khem Birch
Birch should be near the top of the Raptors list of things to do this off-season, as trying to re-sign the big man from Montreal following his buyout by the Orlando Magic back in April could help the Raptors in 2021 and beypnd.
Birch came in and immediately filled a role where the team was lacking. He also brought a two-way game, something some big men with the Raptors didn’t provide this season. The team was lacking in the rebounding department for what felt like the whole season and the only player who providing consistent rebounding and rim protection was Chris Boucher.
With the addition of Birch, it allowed Nick Nurse to have that missing element in the starting rotation and not have to worry about putting in a guy like Boucher two minutes after the tip-off. It gives the coaching staff more flexibility with their lineup game in and game out.
Khem Birch has blossomed with the Toronto Raptors.
Birch, with the time he spent with the Raptors this season, averaged a stat line of 11.9 points , 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, all while having shooting splits of 55.6% from the field and 29% from 3-point range.
Birch provides a lot of things on the floor that some of the bigs on Toronto just weren’t providing. For starters, simply rebounding the basketball was a major one, rim protection as well, and offense in any sort as they were lacking scoring from their bigs for a long time. Aron Baynes and Alex Len just weren’t cutting it for this team and it bit the Raptors in the butt.