3 reasons Toronto Raptors can earn a Top 4 seed in 2022-23

1. The downfall of the Nets

The Nets finished seventh in the conference due to a combination of injuries and a lack of availability from their star players. While they were expected arguably to be the championship favorite with everyone back next year, the egos of their superstars appear to be getting in the way.

Both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have requested trades from the Nets, as Brooklyn was unwilling to give the dynamic point guard a max contract. The Nets will get two hauls in return, but they won’t be as good as they would have been with all of their stars in tow.

The Toronto Raptors will benefit from the Brooklyn Nets’ struggles.

Without Durant and Irving, the Nets will ve stuck in permanent No. 6-9 seed territory with a general lack of draft capital to play around with. Brooklyn went from almost unstoppable to a team that no one, least of all Toronto, is going to fear when it comes time for the playoffs.

With the Raptors linked to Durant in trade talks, Toronto might be able to actually bludgeon the Nets into submission this year with the same superstar that was scaring the rest of the league. Toronto has stumbled on a gold mine of potential with or without Durant in red and black.