Look, the dinosaur is coming out of extinction! And no, I don’t mean the actual prehistoric predator. I mean Canada’s very own Toronto Raptors. Yes, the Raptors are making a comeback. They have not been a relevant title contender since the 2019–20 season, when they were eliminated by the Boston Celtics (a wonderful day for this writer). Since then, the Raptors made the playoffs only once and have largely faded out of NBA relevancy. You don’t see the Raptors being discussed on any major network apart from the local ones — well, until now.
The Toronto Raptors are on course to be a top-five seed, if my writer’s jinx does not get them the same way it did York’s football team. They have been winning consistently and are going neck and neck with some of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams, like the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. Perhaps it’s safe to say that the Raptors have exceeded everyone’s expectations. Brandon Ingram has managed to stay healthy throughout this season, and those who have followed Ingram throughout his career know that asking him to stay healthy for an entire NBA season is like asking Donald Trump not to do anything controversial in a presidential term. But he is healthy, and alongside that, Scottie Barnes has improved his defence and is showing people why he is a legitimate all-star candidate.
Now that the Raptors are back in playoff contention, the question becomes: can they come out of the Eastern Conference and challenge for a title? My answer: They can challenge for the Eastern Conference Championship, but the title remains a pipe dream. The Raptors simply do not have the star power to match the Eastern Conference giants, despite their current form. The Raptors are unlikely to beat the Pistons, the Knicks, or the Celtics, even without their talisman, Jayson Tatum. So this year? No. The Pacers will also be getting Tyrese Haliburton back next year, so the future is equally dim.
But let’s turn to the past and take a trip down memory lane. When the Raptors had ultimate star power — with one of the best duos in the NBA at the time, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry — they still could not make it through. Why? Because of the man who won the Eastern Conference nine years in a row with two different teams. The man who is a real-life version of Thanos.
You might know him as King James, or infamously as LeBronto — yes, the greatest basketball player of all time, LeBron James. LeBron infamously eliminated the Raptors from the playoffs three years in a row, earning himself the title of most hated athlete in Toronto. It is no coincidence that Toronto won its first championship after LeBron left the East.
Why do I reference LeBron? Well, LeBron’s contract with the Lakers is up this year, and there are heavy rumours suggesting he might return to Cleveland one last time before he retires. Cleveland is an Eastern Conference team already stacked with all-stars like Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and two-time league MVP James Harden.
LeBron aside, I still think this team needs a bona fide superstar. Scottie Barnes will be a star in this league, but in my opinion, his peak is a 1B. Scottie Barnes cannot lead a team to a championship, especially with sharks like Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, and Jayson Tatum in the water. Realistically, Scottie is not outplaying these guys in a seven-game series.
The Raptors need to trade for an elite talent, someone whose name alone makes knees tremble. I know one brother who is unhappy in Wisconsin. The Raptors could go get Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it would be worth it. They could also get Domantas Sabonis, who is extremely talented and could elevate Scottie Barnes.
At the very least, Scotiabank Arena is getting some playoff action this season through the Raptors, unlike their co-tenants, the Maple Leafs, who are stinking it up this year. The Raptors are slowly resurrecting, and if they get the right pieces to add alongside Barnes and Ingram, the Eastern Conference might have more action than Jurassic Park.