How’d We Get Here?

The Raptors were forced to play in Tampa because of the pandemic and it sucked. The world’s longest road trip was miserable and halfway through the year it was clear that the best outcome was just getting everyone back to Toronto healthy while picking up a high pick for their troubles. The team had no real center for most of the year, Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse butted heads and the Raptors full-on tanked in the second half. There were still some positives — Fred VanVleet lived up to his big new contract and Chris Boucher broke out — but it was a painful season to watch. One only imagines how much it sucked to be a part of, all while away from home.

The offseason was equally painful as the Raptors said goodbye to franchise icon Kyle Lowry. They did move up in the draft lottery to No. 4, and re-signed some promising contributors in Khem Birch and Gary Trent Jr., but they also failed to address the team’s frontcourt depth. Oh, also, Siakam will be out until December at minimum because of shoulder surgery and may or may not be on the trade block depending on who you read. Things are looking up, because how could they not be after last year, but it’s still not the best time in Raptorsland.

Offseason Moves

Arrivals: Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa, Svi Mykhailiuk, Sam Dekker, Isaac Bonga, Reggie Perry
Rookie Arrivals: No. 4 Scottie Barnes, No. 46 Dalano Banton, No. 47 David Johnson (2W), UDFA Justin Champagnie (2W), UDFA Ishmail Wanright
Departures: Kyle Lowry, Aron Baynes, DeAndre’ Bembry, Rodney Hood, Stanley Johnson, Paul Watson, Jalen Harris
Retained: Gary Trent Jr., Khem Birch

Depth Chart and Minutes Per Game

PG: Fred VanVleet (35.5-36.5) / Goran Dragic (25-27, assuming 50% in TOR) / Malachi Flynn (20-25)
SG: Gary Trent Jr. (30-33) / Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (0, 18-22) / Isaac Bonga (0, 7-14)
SF: OG Anunoby (31-34) / Yuta Watanabe (17-22) / Dalano Banton (0, 6-12) / Ishmail Wainright (0, 5-10)
PF: Pascal Siakam (MG: 5-20, 33-35) / Scottie Barnes (25-30) / Freddie Gillespie (0, 8-16) / Sam Dekker (0, 6-12)
C: Khem Birch (25-28) / Chris Boucher (24-26) / Precious Achiuwa (0, 15-22)

Position Battles

Point Guard: Fred VanVleet should handle the bulk of the PG minutes but it’s possible he slides down a spot to make space for Goran Dragic. The Dragon probably won’t finish the year in Toronto but if he doesn’t start he’ll be FVV’s backup, competing with sophomore Malachi Flynn for playing time. It makes the most sense to start Dragic and VanVleet side by side to create a little more space for Flynn, who showed real promise down the stretch last year. Scottie Barnes is long and versatile, and it’s possible we see him get some minutes in this spot after playing as a lead playmaker at Florida State.

Shooting Guard: Gary Trent Jr. will either start or be a high-minute backup to VanVleet in this spot. It’s fairly cut and dry, with Svi Mykhailiuk also slotting in as a floor-spacer off the bench.

Small Forward: If the Raptors start Dragic and VanVleet together in the backcourt, things get a bit interesting. When the team is healthy this will be OG Anunoby’s spot, but the team is not healthy as Pascal Siakam is recovering from shoulder surgery. That could lead to a smaller lineup with Trent starting at SF, or open the door for Barnes to run with the openers. We’d guess that this role belongs to Barnes until Siakam returns, when it’s handed back to Anunoby.

Power Forward: Anunoby should start for as long as Siakam is sidelined, though it’s also possible that the Raptors keep Anunoby at SF, Scottie Barnes on the bench and give Chris Boucher a shot here. There’s a lot of conditionals, we know. Behind Boucher, and whatever minutes Toronto’s switchy forwards draw here, Yuta Watanabe and possibly Precious Achiuwa will be ready to fill the void.

Center: Khem Birch was a lifeline that was thrown too late last year. The Raptors actually had decent underlying numbers after his arrival, which underscored the importance of having a center that can actually catch the ball while moving his feet. He’s going to start and the Raptors will look to Achiuwa, the big piece in the Lowry sign-and-trade, as well as Boucher to handle the bulk of the bench minutes. Anunoby and Siakam can play here too, but much like last year, the Raptors are trending pretty small at the pivot.

Outlook

Precious Achiuwa, PF

Per-Game Value: 425 / 433 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 345 / 350 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 60

2020-21 Review: Achiuwa saw limited action in his rookie season as the backup to Bam Adebayo on a roster that also had PF-capable guys like Jimmy Butler, Kelly Olynyk, Moe Harkless and Andre Iguodala throughout the year. His motor and upside were apparent but Achiuwa simply didn't play enough to put a dent in the fantasy landscape, with poor free throws dragging him down further. Still, with 0.3 steals and 0.5 blocks in under 12 minutes a night and some solid ball-handling skills, Achiuwa looked like he had more to give.

This Year: That should change this year as Achiuwa was the centerpiece in Toronto's sign-and-trade that sent Kyle Lowry away. Poor center minutes wrecked the team's season last year and they'll be looking at Achiuwa and Khem Birch to solidify the five spot for years to come. Achiuwa will come off the bench but his athleticism and relentlessness fit in with the team's culture, and the Raptors' vaunted development staff will be hard at work to expand Achiuwa's offensive skills. He's a bit undersized but has great athleticism and can defend in space while also posing as a bouncy lob threat. It's a fine base package of skills and the Raptors were supposedly high on him in his draft year, so Achiuwa is in an environment that should help him blossom and flourish.

Injury History: Achiuwa was injury-free in his first season and dealt with minor back and leg issues in his one college campaign.

Outlook: Achiuwa is a guy with intriguing skills and a strong record of production at lower levels. He should have every opportunity to earn a big role this year and while his development might not go according to a linear plan, the big man is an acceptable flier at the back of standard drafts for anyone in need of rebounds and blocks. Don't cling too tightly but the Raptors are going to see what they've got with all their young guys, which gives Achiuwa a chance at fantasy relevance.

OG Anunoby, SF

Per-Game Value: 48 / 36 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 110 / 108 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 43

2020-21 Review: Anunoby pulled off the rare double breakout, following up one big breakthrough season with another. The points, rebounds, assists, steals, threes and free throw percentage were all new personal bests for OG, who also continued to establish his cred as one of the league's best and most versatile defenders. The Raptors were not shy about empowering Anunoby to become more of an offensive threat and he responded by showcasing a burgeoning scorer's toolkit. He isn't just a catch-and-shoot guy anymore.

This Year: The Raptors enter next season without Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam is going to be on the shelf for a month or two, so we might get to see Anunoby operate as a primary scoring option. It's an exciting chapter in his development as he continues to refine his game. The strength and athleticism are incredible and Anunoby will be given leeway to channel them into more offensive work. Zooming out, he's a clear building block for a team that's not used to losing, and figures to be treated like a priority player.

Injury History: Anunoby's roll was slowed by a 10-game absence thanks to a left calf strain, and he would go on to miss a dozen future games for injury management purposes relating to the calf. A six-game stint in the health and safety protocols obviously didn't help, either. It was a stark departure from 2019-20, when he missed one game with an eye contusion and two in the bubble due to right knee soreness. In 2018-19 Anunoby missed three games with a right wrist sprain and four with concussion-like symptoms before undergoing an emergency appendectomy on the eve of the playoffs. That surgery led to big weight loss, preventing him from playing in the postseason. In his rookie season, Anunoby missed eight games with an ankle sprain, and he suffered an ACL injury in college that allowed him to slip to the Raptors in the first place.

Outlook: Anunoby's an early-middle round option through and through, with his continued free throw efficiency likely the swing factor in whether he's a top-30 threat or merely a top-60 option. The points, rebounds, steals, blocks and threes are going to keep rolling in.

Dalano Banton, PG

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Banton, a 6'9" wing with pass-first skills, put up 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 combined defensive stats in his last season at Nebraska. While Banton's jumper was inconsistent, to say the least, his combination of size and ball skills attracted scouts. If he can improve his shot even a little bit there's a lot of attributes that make him a fit in the modern NBA.

This Year: Banton's size and versatility make him a clear fit with the Raptors' vision, and they picked him 46th overall in the draft. He averaged 7.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.0 blocks all in just 18.8 minutes per game at Summer League, showing off that versatile skill set. Banton is unlikely to see major minutes but could be a presence at the end of the rotation, filling the role that DeAndre' Bembry left behind.

Injury History: Banton suffered a minor ankle injury last year.

Outlook: Banton is a 30-team flier because he won't need a ton of usage to deliver some worthwhile stats, and the Raptors have lots of reasons to get a look at some of their younger guys.

Scottie Barnes, SF

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Barnes didn't make a ton of starts in his only year at Florida State, but he did make a big impact. A long two-way forward who played his fair share of point guard, Barnes put up 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 triples on .503 from the floor in 24.8 mpg. He's a high-motor player who can defend any position with intangibles that are off the charts, with that defensive versatility pushing him way up draft boards.

This Year: Barnes was the first pick to break from consensus in the draft as he went 4th overall to the Raptors, who seem to have a type. He'll fit right in as a defensive-minded, versatile player with great athleticism and wingspan. Pascal Siakam's injury and Kyle Lowry's departure will give Barnes minutes at forward and as a secondary playmaker, though it's unclear if he can shoot well enough (.275 from deep in college) to stay on the floor against more ruthless defenses. Barnes has a lot of raw skills and will be top priority for Toronto's vaunted development staff but his defense should get him on the floor immediately.

Injury History: Barnes dealt with a minor ankle injury at FSU but shouldn't be considered an injury risk as he begins his pro career.

Outlook: Barnes is a fun dynasty prospect because of his defensive potential but it's going to be hard for him to play enough to matter in redraft leagues unless he makes quick improvements as a shooter. The stat set looks like that of a high-level, multi-cat glue guy, but the playmaking abilities should leave him a cut above of most of that crop. Hopefully it all comes together quickly, though for now Barnes can be left as a flier to take in 16-teamers and deeper.

Isaac Bonga, PG

Per-Game Value: 458 / 465 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 402 / 410 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 40

2020-21 Review: Bonga spent the last of his two years with Washington, where he averaged 10.8 mpg with poor efficiency at all three levels and low steals. The year before last, Bonga made 49 starts due to his defensive abilities, but was clearly passed over.

This Year: Bonga signed with the Raptors, where he'll be competing for a roster spot in camp. There's some opportunities at the back of the rotation with DeAndre' Bembry, Rodney Hood and Paul Watson gone, but those guys didn't vacate a ton of minutes.

Injury History: Bonga missed one game at the end of 2019-20 with a groin contusion, but that's it.

Outlook: Bonga shouldn't be on your mind in fantasy drafts.

Chris Boucher, PF

Per-Game Value: 68 / 39 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 59 / 42 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 60

2020-21 Review: Boucher finally got a chance to be an NBA rotation player and while it wasn't without its trials, his campaign was a massive success. Although he can't handle certain matchups (fantasy managers could circle games against Joel Embiid and the Sixers as nights to leave Boucher on benches), the spring-loaded big man put an all-time stat set on full display. The Raptors' lack of competent center options meant that Boucher was going to play through some struggles, and even though his on-court defensive awareness needs a bunch of work, fantasy GMs won't complain. The blocks, threes and efficiency are insane and Boucher pushed for early-round value despite playing just 24.2 mpg.

This Year: With Pascal Siakam out for a couple months following shoulder surgery, we might see Boucher get a chance to start on opening night. He's destined for power forward rather than center and that window will give him a nice audition, while a year of actual NBA development under his belt might lead to improved on-court play, and higher minutes as a result. Boucher can be frustrating but is lined up with a can't-miss chance to cement himself as a part of the Raptors' future.

Injury History: Boucher was one of the few Raptors to stay off the injury report until a left knee sprain in late April knocked him out for nine games. He battled back spasms throughout the 2019-20 playoffs as well as minor ankle issues throughout the regular season in 2018-19. He tore his ACL back in college too.

Outlook: Boucher has insane upside because of his stat set and will be a middle-round selection in fantasy drafts. You'll want to be cautious of what might happen if Boucher's 3-point shooting sinks back to what it was in his first two seasons, but even in that case we're still looking at a top-75 option as long as he's over 20 mpg.

Justin Champagnie, SG

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Champagnie averaged a double-double in his final season at Pitt, notching 18.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Not bad for a 6'6" wing. Champagnie plays with relentless energy and isn't afraid to involve himself in the paint, showing good touch around the rim and those obvious rebounding skills.

This Year: Champagnie went undrafted but quickly signed a two-way deal with the Raptors. He's going to spend most of the year in the G League working on his jumper, because if that gets ironed out there's obvious role player potential.

Injury History: Champagnie dealt with an LCL injury last year.

Outlook: Champagnie doesn't need to be on any fantasy draft boards this year.

Sam Dekker, SF

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Dekker spent last season playing with Turk Telecom and averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 triples in 33.3 mpg while shooting .541 from the field. Most importantly, Dekker shot .452 from deep. That was a problem area in the NBA, where Dekker went .288 over his 200 games.

This Year: Dekker signed a deal with the Raptors but will need to compete for a roster spot in training camp. It may ride on whether or not that 3-point shooting was a fluke or real improvement. He last appeared in the NBA in the 2018-19 season. If he makes it, Dekker will be forward depth and a borderline rotation option.

Injury History: Dekker missed most of his rookie season after undergoing back surgery and broke his left hand back in 2016-17.

Outlook: Dekker is not a fantasy option.

Goran Dragic, PG

Per-Game Value: 159 / 226 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 181 / 228 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 50

2020-21 Review: Dragic saw his playing time decline again last season as the Heat saved his energy for the postseason (where he was once again excellent) and allowed some of their younger alternatives to get added experience. Another downtick in volume pushed The Dragon outside the top-150, though he still have streamable stretches when the Heat were missing other guards.

This Year: Dragic was traded to the Raptors, though it seems highly unlikely he'll last the full season in Toronto. He's been open about his preference to be moved elsewhere... say, a city in Texas that rhymes with Shmallas... and as a 35-year-old guard on a rebuilding team, the Raptors don't have a ton of use for him anyway. A buyout achieves nothing, however, and the worst case scenario is Dragic playing out the string in Toronto while serving as a mentor to Fred VanVleet (who probably doesn't need one) and Malachi Flynn. There appears to be enough mutual respect between player and organization that professionalism will reign, meaning that Dragic will soldier on and play a more modest role even though there are other things he'd rather be doing. It doesn't seem dissimilar from what he's been asked to do in Miami over the last two seasons, minus the whole "I'd rather play somewhere else" bit.

Injury History: Dragic missed a pair of games while in the health and safety protocols, three with a left groin strain, nine with a left ankle sprain, four with back spasms and a handful more for rest in back-to-back spots. In 2019-20 Dragic missed nine games with a right groin strain, one with an illness and then two in the bubble after spraining his left ankle. His most notable bubble issue was the partially torn left plantar fascia that forced him to miss four Finals games. 2018-19 was a nightmare, as a left calf strain and right knee surgery limited him to just 36 appearances. Dragic has had a long, fruitful career, and the nicks and bumps are piling up. Everything has a cost.

Outlook: Dragic is a late-round option for 14- or 16-team leagues, though he might get close enough to the top-150 again to make sense in hyper-specific 12-team roster builds. He also might crash onto the scene during the season if another team offers the Raptors a reasonable trade, so if he goes undrafted in your leagues be prepared to scoop him up.

Malachi Flynn, PG

Per-Game Value: 290 / 282 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 280 / 277 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 47

2020-21 Review: Flynn got off to a slow start, as any young guard would be expected to playing behind Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet, but gradually got involved as the maintenance days and losses piled up. A stint in the G League bubble served him well and Flynn was getting massive workloads by the end of the year, posting top-100 numbers in the process. A lot of that came in games where the Raptors weren't really trying to win but it showed that Flynn is a solid enough fantasy option when given the chance to shine.

This Year: That the Raptors passed on Jalen Suggs in the draft is an implicit endorsement of Flynn's standing with the club. Lowry's gone and Goran Dragic probably won't last the whole season in Toronto, and even then we'd expect Flynn to at least get himself into a 20 mpg role at minimum. There's an outside chance that he starts, and the odds of that will increase as the year progresses, but Flynn looks to have a high-minute reserve spot as his floor for this season.

Injury History: Flynn missed five games while in the health and safety protocols but has no other health-related absences of note in his records.

Outlook: Flynn has a high-floor game and that's going to serve him well as he continues to learn the ropes in the league. 20 minutes a night might not be enough to get Flynn into the fantasy conversation, but 25 or more would put him in the mix as a late-round flier. The quicker the Raptors resolve the Dragic situation, the better it will be for Flynn. Right now he's a dice roll for the optimistic until you get into leagues of 16 teams or more.

Freddie Gillespie, PF

Per-Game Value: 257 / 228 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 362 / 355 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 20

2020-21 Review: Gillespie popped up when the Raptors were just playing out the string of their lost season, offering up some bounce and size at a position that killed the team all year long. The big man turned a 10-day deal into a multi-year contract and although he looked raw, it was easy to see the upside that Gillespie holds -- especially as a per-minute producer of boards and defensive stats.

This Year: Gillespie's new contract is not fully guaranteed, however, so the feel-good story isn't written just yet. He'll need to earn a roster spot in training camp, competing with other non-guaranteed players like Yuta Watanabe, Sam Dekker and Ishmail Wainright. Gillespie may have the inside track on the backup or third-string center spot, depending on how Nick Nurse wants to use Precious Achiuwa.

Injury History: Gillespie's only injuries of note came back in high school, when he missed his freshman year due to an ankle injury and suffered a torn ACL as a junior.

Outlook: Gillespie's ability to turn limited minutes into blocks make him a potential deep-league specialist, but it would take injuries to elevate him further.

David Johnson, PG

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: A 6'5" guard with a 6'10" wingspan, Johnson averaged 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He was an inconsistent shooter, though he topped out at 39% from deep last season, and generated most of his plays via off-ball action. Johnson's length is an asset but he needs to improve his footwork to keep pace defensively.

This Year: The Raptors picked Johnson at No. 47 and signed him to a two-way contract. Expect him to play almost exclusively with Raptors 905.

Injury History: Johnson dealt with a shoulder injury back in 2019 but has avoided anything of note since then.

Outlook: Johnson is not someone to consider in fantasy this season.

Svi Mykhailiuk, SF

Per-Game Value: 281 / 309 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 196 / 219 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 66

2020-21 Review: Mykhailiuk started the year in Detroit, where he was a bit part in the rotation until the tank revved up. He was then flipped to the Thunder, where the tank never stopped, but didn't carve out a major role as OKC focused more on seeing what they had with younger, homegrown players. Mykhailiuk had some relevance when Lu Dort was scratched but didn't do much beyond hit threes. He set a new best with a .411 FG% but shot poorly from distance, going a subpar .334 from the arc.

This Year: Mykhailiuk had his qualifying offer pulled by the Thunder and he eventually landed with the Raptors in free agency, securing a two-year deal with a player option. He'll be a floor-spacer in the second unit and his contract should guarantee him a spot on the final roster.

Injury History: Mykhailiuk fractured his left index finger at the end of his rookie season and missed five games due to a right hip strain in the 2019-20 season but has avoided injury otherwise.

Outlook: The Raptors could certainly use spacing but Mykhailiuk is only a 3-point specialist option in leagues with 20 teams or more. It would take injuries elsewhere to elevate him higher than that.

Reggie Perry, C

Per-Game Value: 434 / 444 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 423 / 431 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 25

2020-21 Review: Perry signed a two-way deal with the Nets after being taken 57th overall in the draft out of Mississippi State. The big man was a double-double player in college and fared well in the G League but saw limited run with Brooklyn as the team didn't have time for developing prospects.

This Year: Perry signed an Exhibit 10 with the Raptors and will try to stick around. The team isn't swimming with frontcourt depth but it's unlikely he plays a key role unless things go sideways.

Injury History: Perry hit the injury report for a left groin strain and the health and safety protocols last season.

Outlook: Perry is a fun per-minute guy with a bully ball skill set, but he's a long way from fantasy relevance.

Pascal Siakam, PF

Per-Game Value: 44 / 47 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 52 / 54 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 56

2020-21 Review: No player seemed to take the perpetual road trip harder than Siakam, who has struggled to look like his usual self away from the Toronto fans. He seems to be caught in a cycle where he just can't win. When he drives, observers gripe about how he needs to shoot lest defenses just pack the paint. When he shoots, the same people complain about settling for jumpers when he should attack. Siakam needs to learn to thread that needle and is going through the growing pains of becoming a true No. 1 option. A few bad bounces on clutch shots early in the year seemed to derail his confidence and Siakam started to get going before hitting the sidelines with a case of COVID-19. He played his way back into shape and actually delivered a few weeks of early-round play before a shoulder injury popped up. It wasn't fun, and will go down as a bit of a disappointment as Siakam's growth stopped its upward trend, but he still finished as a top-50 guy.

This Year: Siakam will start next season behind the eight ball as that shoulder injury was revealed to be a torn left labrum. He underwent surgery in June and is expected to miss at least six months, meaning he'll miss a couple months of the campaign at minimum. Siakam should resume his role as a featured player once he returns to full strength but there's no telling when that will be.

Injury History: Siakam missed two games with left knee swelling, six in the health and safety protocols, two with left shoulder inflammation and the last four games of the year with an unspecified left shoulder injury. Of course, that turned out to be a torn labrum that required surgery. In 2019-20, Siakam missed 11 games with a “stretched groin” that popped up out of nowhere. In 2018-19 he played through a right calf issue in the second round of the playoffs but missed just one game due to injury — back soreness — in the regular season. Siakam didn’t hit the injury report in his first two years in the league.

Outlook: Siakam is an odd case heading into 2021-22. In a year where so much went wrong and his confidence was constantly wavering, he still posted a top-50 year. Some home cooking will serve him well, but now managers also need to balance the risk of his injury. Siakam is set to miss at least two months and figures to need a decent ramp-up thereafter. Is that worth a middle-round pick and IR stash? If you can get Siakam at the back of a 12-team draft and stash him away, you might as well go for it, but the calculus gets tricky when you're mulling it over earlier in the draft.

Gary Trent Jr., SG

Per-Game Value: 171 / 153 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 160 / 140 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 58

2020-21 Review: Trent had a big showing in the Disney bubble but had a hard time getting going with the Blazers after being put back into a bench role. He hit the jets when C.J. McCollum broke his foot and ended up being traded to the Raptors at the deadline, where he looks to be part of the team's long-term future. Trent finished outside the top-150 but was a middle-round threat whenever he was getting starter-level minutes. The points and threes are there and while it would be nice to see Trent improve his output of steals and shot selection, it's clear that he's a 3-and-D player on the rise with scoring instincts that are just starting to flourish.

This Year: Trent signed a three-year, $54 million deal to return to the Raptors. He's either going to start at SG or be the team's sixth man. Either way, his workload should be safe, and he'll be one of the team's primary scoring options. Trent's hard-nosed attitude and relentless effort are good fits for the team's culture and he'll be part of the core group as Toronto embarks on its next chapter.

Injury History: Some of Trent's absences need to be taken with a big grain of salt since they came while the Raptors were tanking, but he missed six games with a left leg contusion and two with right ankle soreness (plus three DNP-CDs to end the year), as well as two with a right calf strain while with Portland. Trent missed seven games in 2019-20 with a right hamstring strain but was otherwise healthy.

Outlook: Trent is going to be a fine source of points and threes as one of the better players in Toronto's wing group, though fantasy managers will want to be wary of poor efficiency. Until the steals come up Trent will be a volume-based player, and although he'll have enough to be a standard-league asset it's possible that Trent enters the year a little overvalued. A top-100 season looks to be in the cards but don't get crazy.

Fred VanVleet, PG

Per-Game Value: 23 / 16 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 46 / 35 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 52

2020-21 Review: VanVleet signed a big free agent deal to stick with the Raptors and rewarded management's faith, coming through with a massive season under some very trying circumstances. Aside from a lull in performance upon returning from a case of COVID-19, Steady Freddy lived up to the moniker. He set new personal bests with 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 3.3 triples per contest, with still-strong output in assists (6.3) and steals (1.7)., which was more than enough to outweigh a subpar .389 shooting percentage.

This Year: VanVleet's the new floor general for the Raptors, who let Kyle Lowry waltz to greener pastures. Goran Dragic could start, leaving VanVleet to his customary SG role, though he's obviously proven proficient at playing in two-PG lineups before. The Raptors will be building around VanVleet as part of their next core and he'll have even more usage and ball-handling work on his plate.

Injury History: VanVleet missed five games while in the health and safety protocols and another six with a left hip flexor injury, with his remaining eight absences all coming for rest/maintenance and a suspension. In the 2019-20 season VanVleet missed five games with a right knee contusion, another five with a right hamstring strain and the final six of the original schedule with left shoulder soreness. He also dealt with some left knee soreness and a right knee hyperextension in the bubble but those were minor ailments. The year prior, VanVleet missed 12 straight games after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his left thumb around the All-Star break, and he also missed four games with a sprained left big toe and one apiece for back and thigh issues. After the season VanVleet revealed that he dealt with back issues for much of the year and a hip pointer in the postseason, in addition to stitches and a chipped tooth, but none of that forced him out of action. In 2017-18 he spent time on the sidelines due to a right hand contusion, a tight back and a right knee contusion, as well as a shoulder strain on the last night of the regular season that limited him in the playoffs.

Outlook: VanVleet was already an early-round player who now has run of the backcourt roost, and it's not like he's going to be undone by inefficiency from the field. He's going to go slightly underrated again but the profit margin is slimming down as people figure out how good FVV is in both fantasy and reality.

Ishmail Wainright, PF

Per-Game Value: / (8/9Cat)

Total Value: / (8/9Cat)

Games Played:

2020-21 Review: Wainright, a former football player (he was with the Buffalo Bills in 2018), took his hooping talents to Strasbourg of France's LNB Pro A after going undrafted out of Baylor in 2017. A solid defender with good length, Wainright averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 triples in 28.1 mpg. He shot .485 from the floor but a subpar .320 from distance.

This Year: The Raptors brought Wanright over and he'll be competing for a roster spot. His length and defensive play certainly fit the team's type. Should Wainright make the grade he'll probably be a situational defensive weapon like Yuta Watanabe was last season.

Injury History: Wainright suffered a left foot stress fracture way back in 2012.

Outlook: Wainright's got a cool story but that doesn't count for much in fantasy. He could be a steals specialist in 30-team leagues.

Yuta Watanabe, PF

Per-Game Value: 335 / 314 (8/9Cat)

Total Value: 295 / 281 (8/9Cat)

Games Played: 50

2020-21 Review: Watanabe earned his way into a standard contract, with the Raptors' gutted depth affording him a chance to prove his status as an NBA player. His energy and hustle, particularly defensively, were major standouts on a team that was playing out the string from early on the in season. There's a little bit of multi-cat potential in his stat line and Watanabe's energy-jolt is a nice club for any coaching staff to have in the bag.

This Year: Watanabe outlasted a few guys at the end of the Raptors bench, as he'll be back while DeAndre' Bembry and Stanley Johnson will not, and Pascal Siakam's shoulder injury leaves the door open for someone to absorb some minutes at the forward spots. He'll be behind Chris Boucher and Scottie Barnes in the pecking order but Watanabe should hold down a spot at the back of the rotation.

Injury History: Watanabe missed four games with a left ankle sprain and three with right ankle soreness. He dealt with left shoulder soreness and left ankle soreness in 2018-19 and reportedly suffered a left ankle injury while training for the 2019 World Cup but wasn’t hindered once the pro season began.

Outlook: Watanabe will be a quality 9th or 10th man if he continues to shoot the triple. That's going to make him a fun sleeper in leagues with more than 20 teams, so keep your fingers crossed. Watanabe may never become a big-time player but he's a helpful hand whose intensity can keep him on the floor.

*Originally published August 18, 2021