With several All-Stars changing allegiances this summer, the 2024-25 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent memory. However, while the focus is on teams that have obviously turned themselves into championship-contenders, like the Philadelphia 76ers, there are a few teams that could exceed expectations. These are the types of teams that, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, could make a run in the regular season and beyond.<\/p>\n
In what was frankly an underwhelming season, the Toronto Raptors went just 25-57 in 2023-24.<\/p>\n
This was partially due to face of the franchise Scottie Barnes<\/a> missing the final 22 games of the season with a fractured hand. In that time, the Raptors went just 3-19, losing 15 straight games at one point. A point-forward whose game is somewhat similar to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>\u2019s, Barnes\u2019s multifaceted impact makes him particularly difficult to replace.<\/p>\n However, there was a silver lining to his absence. After being traded to the Raptors on Dec. 30, RJ Barrett<\/a> was already rediscovering himself<\/a>. Confident and comfortable, he was an aggressive and efficient scorer inside and outside the arc. He was even more assertive when Barnes went down, averaging 24.6 points per game.<\/p>\n