3 Raptors that earned untouchable status, 4 that should be cut loose

The Toronto Raptors learned a lot about their team last season.

They learned that they were not good enough to cling to their veteran core and expect to become a contender again, leading them to trade Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. They learned that their roster was extremely thin after those deals, and when injuries struck they quickly fell apart and endured the worst stretch in franchise history.

They also learned a lot about individual players, information that will serve them well moving forward. Which players have earned the right to stay on the team, and which players are worth cutting loose?

Scottie Barnes is untouchable

This may seem obvious right now, but heading into the 2023-24 season it wasn't clear if Scottie Barnes was a star in the making, as he showed his rookie season, or the role player he played like in his second year.

There was a world that never came to be where the Raptors used Barnes as the sweetener in a trade for a primary offensive option to pair with Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Jakob Poeltl on a potential contender. Would the Atlanta Hawks have picked up the phone for Trae Young? What about Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Instead, Barnes broke out and became an All-Star for the first time, becoming the Raptors' best offensive and defensive player. Now the Raptors will build around Barnes as the foundation of their team, making him truly untouchable heading into a busy offseason.