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Toronto Raptors: 3 potential outcomes for the 2021-22 season

By Avishai Sol

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates after scoring a 3-point buzzer beater to defeat the Washington Wizards 103-101 at Amalie Arena on April 05, 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with teammates after scoring a 3-point buzzer beater to defeat the Washington Wizards 103-101 at Amalie Arena on April 05, 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 11: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Up and down the line of this Toronto Raptors roster, there are scores of questions that the club needs to answer in a timely fashion. Can Pascal Siakam return to All-NBA form? Can Fred VanVleet step in and fill Kyle Lowry’s hefty shoes? Will OG Anunoby take the step from elite role player to star?

Can Gary Trent Jr. raise his consistency as a microwave scorer?  What’s the plan for Goran Dragic? Can the complimentary pieces Khem Birch mesh and succeed with more opportunity? Questions, questions, questions.

That’s not to mention all the young guns the Raptors are about to trot out. Guys like Precious Achiuwa and Scottie Barnes are about to get high-level NBA minutes for the first time in their lives. They’re about to get hit by the full force of the NBA, and it’ll be fascinating to see how they hit back.

https://twitter.com/NBACanada/status/1429857742236393482

How will the Toronto Raptors perform in 2021?

The Raptors aren’t winning the title this year. That much we know. Still, there are still plenty of unknowns surrounding the direction this team will take over the next 10 months. With so much up in the air, one could realistically see the Raptors falling out of the playoffs for another rebuilding season.

At the same time, they have enough talent to rise as high as the fourth seed.

There are three general directions the Raptors could go this year, which is a nice departure from last year.

Since the title in 2019, the Raps haven’t stormed to the Finals or sold away everyone in order to rebuild properly. What does 2021-22 hold? Will the Toronto Raptors sink into the lottery, sneak into the playoffs, or make a little bit of a run?