In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 28th team we will review is the Toronto Raptors.
For seven straight seasons from 2014 to 2020, the Toronto Raptors made the postseason. Their greatest moment in franchise history came during the stretch as they defeated the Golden State Warriors in six games to win the 2019 NBA Finals.
In 2020-21, the Raptors missed the postseason for the first year since 2013. At the trade deadline, the Raptors shipped off Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers, and then in the offseason traded star point guard Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat.
The 2021-22 Raptors are set to have a starting five of point guard Goran Dragic, shooting guard Fred VanVleet, small forward OG Anunoby, power forward Pascal Siakam and center Khem Birch. Dragic arrives to the Raptors in the offseason deal involving the Heat for Lowry, while Birch, the Montreal native, signed with the Raptors on April 10, two days after being waived by the Orlando Magic.
Of the Raptors starters, the best player to choose in fantasy is VanVleet. Last season, the native of Rockford, Illinois had a field goal percentage of .389, a free throw percentage of .885, 174 three-pointers, 1019 points, 220 rebounds, 328 assists, 87 steals and 95 turnovers for 1733 fantasy points*.
VanVleet’s most memorable game came on February 2 in a 123-108 Toronto win over the Orlando Magic. He scored 54 points, which set the Toronto record for most points in a game, and also set the NBA record for most points in a game by an undrafted player in NBA history.
Pascal Siakam, who had 21.4 points per game, and a career-high 4.5 assists per game last year, will miss the beginning of the 2021-22 regular season after he is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Selecting Siakam in the later rounds may be worth it as when he is ready to play, the Raptors star from Cameroon will be at the focal point of the team’s offense.
*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).
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