2014-15 NBA Season Preview: Toronto Raptors

Welcome to theScore's preview of the 2014-15 Toronto Raptors. Visit our preseason hub for previews of all 30 NBA teams.

Toronto Raptors

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2013-14

They're the Atlantic Division-champion Toronto Raptors to you, thanks.

The Raptors enjoyed the best regular season of their 19-year existence in 2013-14, finishing 48-34, despite a 6-12 start, by going 42-22 after trading Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 8.

Led by All-Star DeMar DeRozan - who set career highs in points (22.7), rebounds (4.3), assists (4), steals (1.1), 3-point shooting (.305), free throws (6.6), and free-throw attempts (8) - and Kyle Lowry, the Raptors rode head coach Dwane Casey's stingy defense - they ranked ninth in the league on a per-possession basis - to their first playoff appearance since 2007-08, much to the delight of Toronto's starving sports fans, and Drake - the team's global ambassador.

The Raptors fell in seven games in the first round to the veteran-laden Brooklyn Nets, losing Game 6 in Brooklyn, and Game 7 in Toronto by a single point, narrowly missing out on the second playoff series victory in franchise history.

In the end, though, Toronto's "Northern Uprising" was a successful one. While the Eastern Conference may now belong to LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers, the Raptors' young-ish core - DeRozan is 25, Lowry 28, Amir Johnson 27, Jonas Valanciunas 22, and Terrence Ross 23 - served notice that they're going to make some noise north of the border.

Offseason Roundup

The biggest question mark heading into the offseason for the Raptors was the future of point guard Kyle Lowry, who hit the open market. Free agents don't tend to sign - or stay - in Toronto, but Lowry bucked the trend, agreeing to a four-year, $48-million deal on July 10.

"People say 'Toronto can't do this or that in free agency' and I just proved them wrong," Lowry said after his deal was announced. The comment was Lowry personified: he's all about proving people wrong. And make no mistake: the Philadelphia native is the unequivocal leader of the Raptors.

“For us to have a fighter, a bulldog, everything I want in a leader … he came back here to fight for the Raptors," said general manager Masai Ujiri. “This is just the beginning of something good for the Toronto Raptors.”

Additions

SF/PF James Johnson (2/$5M)
*PG Kyle Lowry (4/$48M)
C Lucas Nogueira (trade)
*PF Patrick Patterson (3/$18M)
*PG Greivis Vasquez (2/$13M)
PG/SG Lou Williams (trade)

*Re-signed

Departures

PG Dwight Buycks (waived)
SF Nando De Colo (free agency)
SF Steve Novak (trade)
G/F John Salmons (trade)
PG Julyan Stone (waived)

2014 Draft

SF/PF Bruno Caboclo (1st round, 20th overall)
SF DeAndre Daniels (2nd round, 37th overall)

The Raptors went about as far off the board as possible in drafting Brazilian Bruno Caboclo, who is famously "two years away from being two years away." Caboclo turned 19 in September, and while he'll be a Raptor in 2014-15, he won't contribute in any meaningful way.

DeAndre "Draft-and-Stash" Daniels, 22, averaged 13.1 points and six rebounds for the Connecticut Huskies in 2013-14. He boasts a well-rounded skill set, as described by theScore's Blake Murphy:

(Daniels possesses) deep range and a great transition game thanks to top-flight athleticism. It's unclear which forward position he may ultimately play and if he'll be able to guard either one, but the jumper alone is pure enough to warrant giving him a chance.

Daniels will spend the 2014-15 season with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League, as there's little room, or minutes, for him on this season's Toronto squad.

Starting 5

• PG Kyle Lowry
• SG DeMar DeRozan
• SF Terrence Ross
• PF Amir Johnson
• C Jonas Valanciunas

Breakout Player: Terrence Ross

DeRozan and Lowry cemented themselves as top-tier NBA players last season. Johnson and Valanciunas are key cogs in Casey's defense-first approach. Ross, after starting 62 games in his second season with the Raptors, will be counted on to take the next step in his development in 2014-15.

The 23-year-old improved across the board last season, finishing the year averaging 10.1 points on .423 shooting. He scored in double digits 40 times, and showed what he may be capable of in the future, particularly on the night of Jan. 25, when he went off for 51 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, on 16-of-29 shooting, including 10-of-17 from 3-point range.

Unsurprisingly for a young player in his first NBA playoffs, Ross struggled in the postseason at both ends of the floor, shooting only .298 from the field in seven games. The Nets' Joe Johnson abused him, and that's putting it lightly.

But if Ross can continue to progress, and become at the very least a 3-and-D wing, the Raptors will boast arguably the best starting five they've ever had.

Season Expectations

The Atlantic Division is the Raptors' to lose. The team that lost to the Nets is coming back mostly intact, and is arguably deeper, after adding Lou Williams and James Johnson to the mix.

The Raptors, to a man, called their first taste of playoff basketball together an extremely valuable learning experience. DeRozan, Lowry, Ross, Johnson, and Valanciunas all started the the first NBA playoff games of their careers in the spring, and Dwane Casey coached his first playoff game as a head coach.

Lessons were learned. Now it's time for the Raptors to apply them, win back-to-back division titles, and make the second round of the playoffs for only the second time in 20 years.

1 to Follow on Social Media

Face facts: Drake's a part of the team now, and his reach on social media is unparalleled.

Since Drake joined Toronto as its global ambassador, the Raptors have enjoyed unprecedented success. You might say nothing was the same. (We're so sorry.)