Projecting the ideal Toronto Raptors rotation for 2022-23 season

The Toronto Raptors are finally ready to start competing for the 2022-23 championship, as their 3-2 preseason has come to a close. Last year, Toronto saw their run of good regular season fortune get squashed by the 76ers, who were able to take advantage of poor depth. This season promises to be different.

While Otto Porter Jr. and Chris Boucher remain in doubt for the opener due to injuries, the Raptors will have their starting five intact against the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers. When those two bench players return to full health, Toronto’s full potential will truly be unleashed on the unsuspecting Eastern Conference.

With Nick Nurse allegedly promising to lean less on Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet in order to avoid grinding them into dust, the rotation is going to be even more critical this season. Striking the right balance is necessary to build a winning team in the tight Atlantic Division.

With the Cleveland game just a few days away, it’s time to see what the Raptors’ rotation is going to look like. While injuries will undoubtedly force Nick Nurse to get creative in certain spots, this group at full strength could make some noise in the East.

Ideal 2022-23 Toronto Raptors rotation

Guards

Fred VanVleet: 32 minutes

Gary Trent Jr: 30 minutes

Dalano Banton: 0 minutes

Malachi Flynn: 0 minutes

Jeff Dowtin: 0 minutes

As impressive as Dalano Banton was in the preseason, he might make the team’s nine-man rotation when fully healthy. However, he could change a few hearts and minds by coming out guns blazing with a solid performance in relief of the injured Boucher and Porter.

As it stands right now, VanVleet and Trent will be on the floor for large chunks of the game. With how poor the half-court offense has looked, both of these players need to score at least 18 points per game to keep this team operating at a somewhat efficient clip.

Fred VanVleet will be a leader for the Toronto Raptors.

While VanVleet is going to be the metronome that keeps the offense stable, Trent and his ability to kickstart the offense with a few timely 3-pointers is going to be almost as important. With the ability to opt out of his contract coming up, playing well this season may help him earn a nine-figure deal in the offseason.

Banton has passed over Flynn in a pretty firm fashion, so he likely won’t see extended minutes with the team that doesn’t come in mop-up duty at the end of games. While Dowtin became a fan-favorite in Summer League and the preseason, he is in the same boat as Flynn.