Ranking 5 Raptors burning questions by how quickly we want them answered
The Toronto Raptors have not done a great job of giving us answers this preseason.
The past two weeks were supposed to be an opportunity to see the entire team together, to see how the core players worked together and how a rebuilt bench supports them. Instead, injuries and absences have kept at least two of their core four players off the court in each game, with other players unable to fully shake of the rust either.
That leaves us with a number of burning questions that we want answer to heading into the regular season, which tips off for the league on Tuesday and the Raptors on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Which questions are most pressing? Let's look at our top 5, starting with the one that might take a while to unpack, and ending with the one that we need answered yesterday.
No. 5: Is Scottie Barnes a superstar?
In a way, the least-pressing question is also the most important one. If Scottie Barnes is a really good player, who challenges for an All-Star berth every season and makes a couple of All-Defense teams, that's good or the Toronto Raptors. The fan base appears to love him, he plays hard, he is an affable guy. Having a two-way skilled player like that is of course a good thing.
That level for Barnes, however, will not be enough to lead them to a title, or even into contention at the top of the Eastern Conference. Winning titles in the NBA requires either a Top-5 player or a plethora of Top-30 players around a Top-12ish guy. You truly don't win without one or the other. At a minimum, then, the Raptors need a Top-12 guy, a player who is perennially making All-NBA teams.
Can Barnes take that next step? That answer doesn't have to be answered this year, but it certainly could be. If he takes a step back from where he was last year, then the Raptors need to move forward assuming Barnes will not be the best player on a contending team. If he maintains his level of play this year, the question is uncertain.
But if Barnes can take another step forward as early as this year, a more dominant offensive force and improving as a shooter, scorer and playmaker, suddenly the ceiling for the Raptors opens up. Barnes doesn't have to drop 50 points in the season opener, but at some point this season answering this question would be extremely valuable.