The 2024-25 Toronto Raptors’ Season Preview
September 6th, 2024
by Alan Lu
The Toronto Raptors had a trying season last year in their first season with head coach Darko Rajakovic. After they lost Fred VanVleet to Houston in the offseason, they had to go in with a new starting point guard, but they started the year with former All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, and former Rookie of the Year forward, Scottie Barnes.
Barnes turned in a strong season that led him to make his first All-Star team, but the Raptors were not very competitive as a team, and the Raptors basically threw in the towel on their season by trading away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to the Pacers and Knicks respectively midway through the season. The 2023-24 Raptors went only 25-57, but they will look to build around their star forward Scottie Barnes, with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley as the other building blocks for them to build around.
Scottie Barnes made his first NBA All-Star team in 2024, and the Raptors have a real shot at getting a play-in tournament berth in 2025. (Photo: Brandon Dill/The Canadian Press/Associated Press, via CTV News Toronto)
Star Players:
He is an All-Star forward that is a skilled, versatile player that can score, facilitate, and defend on the court. Barnes is a versatile, talented playmaker that can do it all, and he could be the Raptors’ franchise player for many years to come.
Additions:
G-F Ja’Kobe Walter, G Jamal Shead, F Jonathan Mogbo, G Davion Mitchell, and C Bruno Fernando
The Raptors added Davion Mitchell in a trade from Sacramento, who can bring some defense and improved his jump shot, but is a low volume offensive player that hasn’t made as big of an impact as expected. They also added a backup center candidate in Bruno Fernando, who is a very athletic, energetic big man. They also added a slew of rookies that will compete for playing time.
Subtractions:
G-F Gary Trent Jr., F Jordan Nwora, F Jalen McDaniels, G Javon Freeman-Liberty, and C Malik Williams
The Raptors lost a slew of various role players, but their biggest loss is losing Gary Trent Jr. in free agency, as Trent provided them with sharpshooting and scoring in his role on the team over the past few seasons.
Rookies:
G-F Ja’Kobe Walter, G Jamal Shead, F Jonathan Mogbo, C Ulrich Chomche, F-C Branden Carlson, G-F Jamison Battle, F Quincy Guerrier, and G Tylor Perry
Walter, Shead, and Mogbo could earn considerable playing time for the Raptors this season, as there are minutes to be had amongst players on the back half of the roster. Walter is a smooth scorer that handles the ball very well, and Jamal Shead is a defensive pest that more or less projects to be a similar player to Mitchell. Mogbo is an athletic, high-motor combo forward that defends well, but will need to improve his jump shot. The Raptors also added a slew of other rookies, some of whom could end up getting some playing time towards the end of the season.
Expected Rotation:
Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett will play integral roles on the Toronto Raptors this season.
(Photo: Chris Young/The Canadian Press, via CBC)
This year, it will be Scottie Barnes’ team, and he will look to build off of his All-Star season as the Raptors also will have a full season of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, and they could get more wins than expected this year. RJ Barrett will bring scoring and tough defense, Quickley is a skilled playmaker that will pack a scoring punch, and they also have a couple of solid, reliable veteran big men in Poeltl and Olynyk.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Key Bench Players:
Bruce Brown is a defensive stopper that had a down shooting season in 2024, and he will look to have a rebound season in 2025. (Photo: Mark Blinch/Getty Images, via Fansided’ Raptors Rapture)
Bruce Brown was an integral role player on the Nuggets’ 2023 championship team, and he is a very athletic combo guard whose playmaking and defense helps him to any team he goes to. Chris Boucher is a veteran big man that has been reliable as a floor spacer and rim protector in this league. Walter is an athletic scoring guard with terrific handles, and he could project very well into a sixth man role if he gets acclimated to the league quickly. They also have a slew of other role players that will compete for playing time, as Gradey Dick is an athletic floor spacer, Shead and Mitchell are playmakers that will play tough defense, Agbaji is an athletic defensive wing that will need to regain his shooting touch that helped Kansas win the championship, and Mogbo is a high-motor combo forward that plays with great energy.
F-C Chris Boucher
G-F Gradey Dick
G-F Ochai Agbaji
The Rest of the Roster:
G-F Garrett Temple
G D.J. Carton (Two-Way)
C Branden Carlson (Two-Way)
F-C Ulrich Chomche (Two-Way)
Others in Camp:
G-F Jamison Battle (Exhibit 10)
G-F Jared Rhoden (Exhibit 10)
F Quincy Guerrier (Exhibit 10)
G Tylor Perry (Exhibit 10)
Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:
Here I will project the likelihood of the Toronto Raptors to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.
Gradey Dick – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Ochai Agbaji – 50/50, Leaning Towards It Will Be Accepted (50% Certainty)
Head Coach:
(Source: X/@sportingnews)
Darko Rajaković
2023-24 (TOR): 25-57, 0-0 in the NBA Playoffs
Coaching Career: 25-57, 0-0 in the NBA Playoffs
After being an assistant on some solid Thunder and Grizzlies’ teams, he went 25-57 in his first season as an NBA head coach last year. Darko Rajakovic is a fiery competitor that will have his players back, and while it hasn’t yet translated to the win column, there’s hope that it could pay huge dividends for the Raptors in the future.
NBA Head Coach Rank: 28
Outlook:
Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Darko Rajakovic will lead the Toronto Raptors into the 2024-25 NBA season. (Photo: Cole Burston/Getty Images, via Forbes)
The Raptors have enough talent to compete for a play-in spot, but they have to continue to grow and gel as a team, and it could take time for them to do so before they will be able to land a playoff spot in the future.
Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 30-52
Projected Regular Season Finish: 10th in the Eastern Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to lose in the play-in tournament and miss the playoffs
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 20
I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing the in-season tournament to see how that will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors. Thanks for reading.