What the Toronto Raptors need to do to win the NBA Finals in the next five years
In 2012-13, the Toronto Raptors won just 34 games, finishing last in the Atlantic Division. Rudy Gay led the team in scoring, and names such as Andrea Bargnani and Ed Davis played prominent roles.
Five years later, the Raptors won the NBA Finals and hoisted the first championship trophy in franchise history. Kyle Lowry got to stick around during the remodel, but otherwise the entire roster turned over in that half-decade to build a title contender.
Can the Raptors do it again? Can they go from last in the Atlantic Division to the NBA Finals in just five years? It's certainly a longshot, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Let's look at the 5-step plan to return the Raptors to the Finals.
No. 1: Develop Scottie Barnes into a superstar
Winning an NBA title in the modern era essentially demands a Top-5 player in the league. It demands other things, as we will detail shortly, but the starting point is a Top-5 player.
The Boston Celtics were the exception to the rule this past year, with a player in Jayson Tatum most would rank in the 6-9 range, but also with four other Top-40 players who all play on both ends of the court. Prior to him, however, the list of superstars leading their teams to victory illustrates the point: Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant - those six players have won the last 12 titles.
For the Raptors to win a title they therefore need to get a top-tier superstar. Last time they traded for one, catching Kawhi Leonard at the perfect time for a win-it-all rental. This time their best bet is for Scottie Barnes to reach that level, to reach his best-case scenario outcome and become an MVP-level player.
It's certainly possible, if always unlikely for any one player to reach those heights. Barnes is highly skilled and great on both ends of the court, and if he can become a perennial All-Defense force and the centerpiece of a good offense, his overall impact could be enough to drive a contender. Giannis Antetokounmpo is exactly the model, even if their games are not exactly the same.
For the Raptors to win a championship in the next five years, Barnes has to hit the ceiling of his development.