The Detroit Pistons just finished a wildly successful yet disappointing season. No one predicted Detroit becoming a 60-win juggernaut before the season. Unfortunately for Pistons fans, most people also did not expect that 60-win juggernaut to struggle through a seven-game series against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, then lose in seven games against the Cavaliers.
The Toronto Raptors would love to follow a similar path as Detroit. Two years ago, the Pistons were the worst team in the NBA, finishing at an abysmal 14-68.
Last year, the Pistons took a surprising leap by developing their young players and adding proven veterans. They ended up losing in the first round, but their potential was obvious. This year, the Pistons finished as the No. 1 seed and won a playoff series.
The Raptors have already accomplished the first two parts of that blueprint. Last year, Toronto finished 11th in the Eastern Conference. This year, the Raptors made their surprising leap after adding Brandon Ingram. They now need to develop their young players and add one or two proven contributors to continue their Detroit-like ascension.
Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter are the perfect options for internal growth
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are the Pistons’ main young contributors who have made jumps over the last two or three years. Scottie Barnes, who was drafted in the same class as Cunningham, made his own leap this season and broke out even further in the playoffs. Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter also flashed huge upside in the second half of the season.
All you had to do was watch five minutes of Collin Murray-Boyles this season to see his overwhelming potential. He is a 99th-percentile athlete in the NBA with special defensive instincts, much like Ausar Thompson.
Ja’Kobe Walter does not have the same defensive upside as Barnes or Murray-Boyles, but he still showed he can be a defensive force in the playoffs. He also showed he might have elite shooting potential. After the All-Star break, Walter shot 47.6% from beyond the arc.
Those three players continuing to grow and becoming more consistent will be critical for the Raptors’ progression.
The Raptors need a veteran presence
Two offseasons ago, the Pistons added a trio of veterans: Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. Those veterans addressed team needs and brought plenty of big-game experience. That changed Detroit’s trajectory.
The Raptors should look to do the same this offseason. Adding a couple of veterans who can shoot, create their own offense or rebound would help address Toronto’s most pressing needs. It would also give the Raptors consistent contributors they can rely on in the playoffs. If Toronto adds those veterans while improving internally, a Detroit-like jump is not out of the question.
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