5 major lineup questions Toronto Raptors must address this offseason

No. 1: Are the Raptors prioritizing the present or the future?

The Toronto Raptors, to their credit, did not cling to memories of the past or foolish hope for the future this past season. They made the difficult decisions to trade OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, getting back real players and picks instead of losing them for nothing this summer.

In the process, however, the Raptors didn't fully commit to a path. They got back good young players in Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett in the Anunoby trade; that was good value, especially with how well Barrett played, but they are neither win-now veterans nor raw prospects and draft picks. The path ahead is still undecided.

Having cleared their draft pick obligation to the San Antonio Spurs, the Raptors are free and clear to lean into one more losing season. They could use their cap space to take on money from other teams for draft assets and maximize their chances of adding one more core piece in a loaded 2025 draft class. In that scenario, a player like Gradey Dick has a better chance at getting the final starting spot, and the starting center in Jakob Poeltl could be moved.

If they want to build more quickly into competing, however, then they will more likely look for a veteran option to start on the wing and use their cap space and trade assets to add players who can help them win now. They aren't in a place to go "all-in" this offseason, but even subtle changes in the focus can have a major impact on the moves they make.

The answers to these questions will dictate the months ahead, and in term set the stage for years to come.