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Toronto Raptors: 2021-2022 starting lineup prediction with Bradley Beal

By Jack Long

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 06: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards attempts a lay-up past Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors during overtime at Amalie Arena on May 06, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. 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. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 06: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards attempts a lay-up past Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors during overtime at Amalie Arena on May 06, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. 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. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 20: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 20: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors’ 2021-2022 starting guards

PG: Fred VanVleet

VanVleet will officially take on the full-time point guard role with the probability of Lowry out of the fold. Steady Freddy has really grown into his role not only on the court, but off of it and has become the heart and soul of this Raptors group.

Some suggest that VanVleet is a better off-ball guard and that may be true, but he deserves the keys to the backcourt at least to start the season as the full-time PG. VanVleet came into the mix as a natural point guard, but obviously wasn’t taking the job from the GROAT.

Fred VanVleet knows this group and the system and should be able to be a great point general for the Raptors come next season.

SG: Bradley Beal

A trade for beal is likely contingent on getting Gary Trent Jr. to agree on a hefty contract in free agency and flipping him to Washington in exchange for the elite scorer.

Bradley Beal would change the Toronto Raptors overnight.

Beal has long stated that he is committed to the Wizards organization, and one has to respect that in the NBA where loyalty takes a backseat in today’s day and age. Squeaking into the playoffs for the first time in a while, maybe the Wizards are building something.

More likely than not though, Beal won’t be a Wizard forever, and you know there will still be teams calling on the superstar guard this offseason. The Raptors should be, and will be one, of those teams. This organization has had a passing interest in Beal in the past and if Masai Ujiri is staying, he’s going to go big. You can bet on that.

Beal’s fit on this team would be perfect. If Lowry is on the way out, they need reinforcements at the guard position, and what better than one of the best in the league? A backcourt of Beal and VanVleet would be incredibly lethal. Talk about fun basketball. Beal would immediately throw the Raptors into the contention conversation.