3 biggest worries Raptors fans might have in 2022-23 season
By Mike Luciano
The vibes around the Toronto Raptors are generally great at this point in time. The team basically brought back the entire rotation after winning 48 games last season. All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet promises to form another unstoppable tandem with All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam.
The Raptors have built themselves into one of the most difficult teams in the league to suit up against. Nick Nurse has this team playing some impressive defense, and they managed to step on the gas during the second half of the season as they geared up for the playoffs.
While there are plenty of reasons for optimism, Masai Ujiri might have some sneaking suspicions that this team could get their feet caught in several proverbial bear traps on their path to contention. No team is perfect, and there’s a way to beat everyone in this league.
The Raptors need to be slightly concerned about these three trends as the preseason ticks ever closer. While they might not be crippling enough to completely derail the season for Toronto, they are important enough to where they could be a significant impediment to success.
3 worries Toronto Raptors fans might have in 2022-23.
3. Disappointing offseason additions
The Raptors addressed many of the problems that lingered around last year’s team. The lack of size was improved by the drafting of Christian Koloko, Juancho Hernangomez should help with the team’s shooting, and the underrated Otto Porter Jr. will be one of the hot new names on the bench.
Porter is a solid player, but he is a durability risk that has missed tons of time over the last few years. Hernangomez is a negative on the defensive end, which contributed to how long it took for him to get signed. Koloko is so raw that he might not see much meaningful NBA playing time this season.
Will the Toronto Raptors’ newcomers play well?
The Raptors had no choice but to lean on their starting lineup last year, as Khem Birch and Malachi Flynn weren’t capable first men off the bench. Shocking, I know. The lack of depth came back to bite them in the postseason, meaning that these new names are being entrusted to shoulder significant responsibility.
Knowing the potential that Koloko has on both ends and the expertise Porter provided for a champion Warriors team, fans should be reasonably confident that Ujiri’s two big-name additions in the offseason gel well together. However, there is an alternate universe where both of them fail to make the impact many expect of them.
The Raptors probably aren’t winning the title in that world.