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3 Bold predictions for the Toronto Raptors’ 2023 offseason

By Nolan Fluke

Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) /

2. The Raptors end up a top-6 seed

Last season, the Raptors were underwhelming. Despite higher expectations, they fell to 41-41 and finished 9th in the Eastern Conference. However, they were 41-41 with an injured and empty rotation. They won half their games with no bench players, simply off of their starting lineup talent.

This October, Otto Porter Jr, a career 40% 3-point shooter and contributor to the 2022 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, will return to the rotation. There are also a few solid bench players looming in free agency, like Cory Joseph and Josh Richardson. The Raptors also hold a valuable trade piece in OG Anunoby, who could be dealt for starting lineup talent or several bench pieces.

Can the Toronto Raptors win in 2023?

If the Raptors can make the moves this off-season to fill out the rotation and get the starting lineup some spacing and defense off the bench, they could move up the standings. The Raptors were just four games shy of the No. 6 seed Brooklyn Nets in 2023, a gap that could easily be covered next season.

You can guarantee half of the top-six seeds will be to Milwaukee, Boston, and Philadelphia. New York, Miami, and Cleveland aren’t far behind. That No. 6 seed is still up for grabs, and Toronto could fight its way into the conversation if they make the right moves.