It’s hard to remember now that the Toronto Raptors had one of their best seasons in what is the golden era of their history.
They won 51 games, the same amount as the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. They had winning head-to-head records against the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, the two East teams who accumulated more wins than they did. They once again produced two all-stars, and their D-League team, the Raptors 905, won a championship in just they second year of existence.
However, as far as they’ve come they still seem so far from NBA championship level after being swept by Cleveland in demoralizing fashion. The roster needs both further internal development and exterior upgrades.
But until then, let’s grade the players who finished the season on the roster based on their 2016-17 performance:
Kyle Lowry: A-
Lowry averaged a career best 22.4 points and seven assists this season and once again was the heart and soul of the team. Yet injuries were once again an issue for the 30-year-old as he only played 60 games during the regular season and missed the last two games of the playoffs due to an ankle injury.
The 37.4 minutes a night he played provided value but also could be why he continues to break down. The three-time all-star was one of the best players at his position once again but the drama around his wrist injury originally not being reported by him, coupled with his annual shooting slump in the playoffs, has to be taken in consideration when evaluating the impending free agent.
DeMar DeRozan: A
“I pride myself in getting better” was the biggest takeaway from DeMar DeRozan’s exit interview. He certainly came back after last summer improved after signing the second-biggest contract in NBA history this summer. DeRozan entered 2016-17 with a better handle and as a better facilitator, along with an even improved shot that helped him finish fifth in league scoring with 27.3 points per game.
But he is still an inconsistent defender and provides no spacing, shooting 26.6 per cent from three in the regular season and just 6.7 per cent (1-15) during the postseason. He deserved his all-star starting spot, but to be a true franchise player he has to round out his game so he can be as dominant in the postseason as the other elite players in the league.
DeMarre Carroll: D
It just hasn’t worked. Not a total failure as, unlike Jared Sullinger, the Raptors have had some bright moments from Carroll. But the issue is those moments have been few and far between… and certainly not worth $14 million a year.
Carroll was supposed to provide three-point shooting and defence. Last year he shot 34.1 per cent from three, the second worst mark of his career. In the playoffs that dropped to 31 per cent. His defensive win shares during the regular season were 2.1 and just 0.2 in the playoffs. He hasn’t been effective shooting the three or playing D. Carroll is still on the books for another two years and will be a tough contract to move.
Serge Ibaka: B+
Masai Ujiri got his man before the trade deadline and Serge Ibaka was a badly needed answer to the Raptors power forward vacancy in the starting lineup.
It’s tough to imagine where they would be in the playoffs if not for his spacing and ability to play centre, allowing them to guard the pick and roll while playing small. His 6.8 rebounds per night is a cause for concern moving forward as his rebound rate has steadily declined as he’s aged. That’s a number you’ll live with when he shoots just under 40 per cent from three as a big on a team that struggles from beyond the arc. In just 37 games as a Raptor he quickly became a fan favourite and a staple in closing line-ups.
Jonas Valanciunas: C
The most divisive player among fans remains Jonas Valanciunas. His supporters would cite that his 55.7 per cent two-point field goal percentage is is the best on the team and 16th in the NBA. And yet, he’s an afterthought in most Toronto offensive sets. He also finished 6th in rebound percentage at 20.8.
His detractors would say he hasn’t improved his points (12), blocks (0.8), assists (0.7), and minutes (25.7) for the better part of three years. JV may never reach his full potential in Toronto and the rapidly changing style of the NBA isn’t helping. However, whenever you get 80 games of an above average play at centre you’ll take it.
Cory Joseph: B
Joseph had an up and down year in his second season as a Raptor. His defense slipped at times with his defensive rating ballooning to a career high 110 and was even benched in favour of Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet midseason. But when Lowry went down in the regular and postseason Joseph helped keep the ship afloat. His usage rate of 18.4 was a career high. Most importantly, when you wondered about the level of effort and competition of some Raptors in the postseason Joseph was never one of them.
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Norman Powell: A+
Once again, Norman Powell came off the bench this season to save the Raptors from first-round elimination. After playing just 19 total minutes in the Raptors first two playoff games Powell played 20+ the rest of the way and was, for large stretches, their best player. Powell shot 44.1 per cent from three in the postseason. His 23.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per 100 possessions throughout the year show he’s deserving of a bigger role.
P.J. Tucker: A
Tucker proved to be exactly as advertised when he arrived in Toronto for his second stint as a Raptor. He provided a deadly corner three-point shot, hitting 40 per cent of his threes as a Raptor during the regular season. You can’t quantify the leadership and toughness he instilled to team that badly needed it. He also made himself a lot of money with his tough defence on LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Patrick Patterson: C-
For most of his time in Toronto, Patrick Patterson has been a plus/minus master. Yet this season Patterson finished with a box plus minus of just 0.9. It will be tough to advocate increasing his salary this offseason for a player who averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. The addition of Tucker and Ibaka made Patterson’s defensive versatility less valuable down the stretch.
Jakob Poeltl: B
Poeltl didn’t provide the immediate impact you’d necessarily expect from the 9th overall pick in the draft. He only featured in 54 games and spent lots of time developing with Raptors 905. But Poeltl did show lots of promise with a great basketball feel and defensive positioning. The fact he was trusted to play 26 minutes in six playoff games shows Jakob’s a big part of Toronto’s future.
Delon Wright: B
After missing the first half of the season due to an offseason shoulder surgery, Wright returned a better playmaker and ball-handler. His athleticism and length make him a tantalizing prospect but at the age of 25 his jump shot and 46.6 effective field goal percentage needs to improve for him to be considered a potential every day starter.
Lucas Nogueira: B-
Lucas Nogueira started the season as a dark horse Most Improved Player candidate. He ended it buried on the bench. His 125-offensive rating and three blocks per 36 minutes show he has the potential to be a dominant screen-setting and rim-running big over time.
Free Association: Tank or retool? Where do the Raptors go from here?
Fred VanVleet: B+
Fred VanVleet was touch-and-go to make this team, barely beating out Canadian Brady Heslip in training camp for the last spot on the active roster. It is not often a fourth-string point guard has a 10.5 PER. The fact he was trusted to play down the stretch in the final playoff game of the season shows just how far the undrafted rookie has come.
Pascal Siakam: B-
Pascal Siakam began the season as a starter and held his own. But eventually the rookie wall hit him. Siakam started 38 games but only played in 55 total. After playing 21 minutes on opening night he was inactive for the final game of the regular season. Overall it was a positive year as he finished the season plus 22 on the year and was named D-league Finals MVP after averaging 18 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
Bruno Caboclo: B
No two years away from two years away jokes needed. Bruno still didn’t play meaningful minutes but his option was picked up so the experiment isn’t over yet. The fact he went off for 31 points and 11 rebounds in the D-League championship was a positive sign from the still very young Brazilian.