The Toronto Raptors had four players crack The Ringer’s latest Top 100 NBA players list, a pretty good sign of how much talent Toronto has assembled heading into next season.
First off it is important to note that this list takes playoff performances into consideration. Scottie Barnes led the way at No. 17, with Brandon Ingram coming in at No. 67, RJ Barrett at No. 79 and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles rounding things out at No. 93.
Barnes being the highest-ranked Raptor shouldn’t surprise anyone. The All-Star forward averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks per game this season while earning a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team. There was even a case to be made he deserved First Team consideration as well.
The crazy thing about those numbers is that they improved in the post season. Barnes became much more aggressive offensively, doubling his drives, isolation possessions and free-throw attempts from the regular season. He took on a bigger playmaking role and created more of his own offense, averaging 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds per game in the postseason.
The next Raptor on the list was Ingram at No. 67. There’s an argument he could have been higher. Ingram earned an All-Star nod after averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 77 games, the most games he has played since his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
What likely hurt his ranking was his first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before a heel injury knocked him out of the final two games, Ingram struggled to get much going offensively, averaging just 12 points on 32.8 percent shooting through five games.
Barrett checked in at No. 79 after putting together one of the best seasons of his career. While Ingram struggled in the playoffs, Barrett seemed to embrace the moment. His biggest shot came in Game 6 against Cleveland when he buried the overtime winner to force a Game 7, but it wasn’t the only time he delivered. Barrett was one of Toronto’s most reliable players throughout the postseason and definitely earned his spot on the list.
Finally, the last Raptor to make the list is Murray-Boyles at No. 93.The rookie entered the season with plenty of question marks, but by the end of the year he looked like a player who may have outplayed his draft slot.
CMB earned All-Rookie Second Team honours and became an important part of Toronto’s playoff rotation. More than anything, he showed why the Raptors were so high on him in the first place. His defensive versatility, physicality and feel for the game stood out all season, and he gave plenty of reasons to believe there’s still another level for him to reach.
The rankings themselves are always up for debate, but having four players in The Ringer’s Top 100 is a nice bit of recognition for a Raptors team that took a major step forward this season.
