Toronto Raptors: 3 rotation decisions to make in training camp

2. What does the starting lineup look like without Pascal Siakam?

Pascal Siakam is out. We all know it, we all hate it, but it’s the truth going into the season. What will the opening night lineup look like?

It’s tough to know exactly what Nurse is thinking, but there are a few possibilities.

• G Fred VanVleet
• G Gary Trent Jr.
• F OG Anunoby
• F Scottie Barnes
• C Khem Birch

This is the most defensively intimidating lineup the Raptors can run out on Opening Night. We know VanVleet, Anunoby, and Birch are going to be in any starting lineup, so they’re a given. In this lineup, Trent offers an offensive option that can hopefully keep Toronto firing consistently, even if Anunoby or VanVleet go cold at any point.

Bringing in Barnes from the get-go is a massive risk. His game is incredibly raw, especially on the offensive end, where his jump shot is a long way from perfect. Still, his potential, defense, and length make it a genuine possibility that he starts right away on the court rather than the bench.

Is it worth the risk? We’ll see what Nurse thinks. It’s important to manage his growth in a very prudent manner, no matter how great an impression he’s made on us.

Will the Toronto Raptors start Scottie Barnes or go small-ball?

• G Fred VanVleet
• G Goran Dragic
• G Gary Trent Jr.
• F OG Anunoby
• C Khem Birch

If the Raptors decide to go small ball, this is likely the best way to do it.

Birch has been the lone rebounding bright spot since he came to Toronto last year, pulling down nine rebounds per 36 minutes since being traded from the Orlando Magic. It makes sense that without Siakam, the move could be to surround Birch with shooters, space the floor, and let the native Canadian clean up the misses.

The big negative? Defense. Dragic has been a Defensive Box Plus/Minus negative every non-Rockets year of his career, and he has been even worse than normal these past two seasons in Miami. Add to that Trent trying to guard bigger wings and you have a recipe for disaster guarding the hoop.

This lineup may fit the odd matchup-based game, but it’s unlikely to see much action overall.

• G Fred VanVleet
• G Gary Trent Jr.
• F OG Anunoby
• F/C Chris Boucher
• C Khem Birch

This is the most likely starting lineup come opening night. Boucher slotting in at the 4 spot gives the Raptors a credible inside/outside offensive option that Barnes isn’t at this juncture. He may not go off every night, and he’s never the first option, but he has the ability to keep a defender on him.

As for his defense, it goes without saying that Boucher can make an impact.

Boucher’s defense isn’t perfect, but if Toronto wants to protect the rim while also being a nuisance on the 3-point line, Boucher gives the starting lineup a player that can scare a player off a potentially open jumper.

There’s no way to know for sure who will trot out onto the court for the start of the Wizards game, but if I were a betting man, this would be it.