How should the Toronto Raptors line up when Pascal Siakam returns?

Considering all of the deserved hype that Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby have earned over the course of the preseason slate, it’s easy to forget that when the Toronto Raptors are at full strength, Pascal Siakam will be the unquestioned top option on the offensive end. He’s eager to prove doubters wrong after a shaky 2020-21 season.

Siakam is recovering from a shoulder operation that will likely keep him sidelined for the first few weeks of the season. Combined with the loss of Chris Boucher due to a finger injury and his subsequent struggles, the Raptors appeared to be bailing water with regards to their frontcourt depth.

Luckily, thanks to some standout performances from Barnes and Precious Achiuwa, the Raptors were thrown into a whole new arena of questions about this lineup and what it will look like in the regular season. Both Barnes and Achiuwa came away from the preseason as some of the biggest winners.

When Siakam comes back to full health, it would seem as though that would eat into Barnes’ playing time. However, there is a way to make sure Barnes and Siakam stay in the starting lineup, some of the early season stars get to shine, and the Raptors still possess enough bench depth to overwhelm teams with a 10-men rotation.

Ideal Toronto Raptors lineup and rotation when Pascal Siakam returns

G: Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic

G: OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr

G: Scottie Barnes, Svi Mykhailiuk

F: Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher

F: Precious Achiuwa, Khem Birch

The Raptors have talked about playing a positionless style of basketball, and this lineup would start four players between 6-7 and 6-9 next to Fred VanVleet. Considering that Achiuwa was an absolute monster in the preseason, he isn’t relinquishing his starting spot to Khem Birch. 

Barnes has been too valuable on both ends to stick on the bench as a rookie. He’s already shown that he can be an above-average perimeter defender and passer, so why not get him as many reps on the perimeter as possible?

Anunoby at the 2-guard spot might not seem ideal given how he played a ton of power forward last year, but his new and improved handle, jumper, and shot-creation abilities have been astonishing, and he should be more than capable of translating those skills over to a guard spot.

Rather than debating the merits of starting Gary Trent Jr. or Goran Dragic, why not put them both on the bench? They could be the primary scorers in some ultra-small lineups that allow Barnes enough room to develop as a ball-handler and generator of offense.

The defensive potential for this lineup is insane, and it will ensure that all of Toronto’s heavy hitters will be on the floor together for large chunks of the game. This team will be reliant on Pascal Siakam to a degree, but accentuating him with these complementary pieces could kick this offense up a notch.