The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks, two teams that failed to make the NBA playoffs a year ago, bring high aspirations into their season opener on Wednesday in Atlanta.
“I think our expectations for our team is to definitely make the playoffs and win some games in the playoffs,” Toronto forward Scottie Barnes said. “That’s the standard. That’s the bottom line, with how talented we are and what we should be able to achieve for this team.”
The Raptors have not made the playoffs for the last three years. The Hawks qualified for the last four NBA play-in tournaments, but they failed to advance to the first round in 2024 and 2025.
Barnes was the only player in the league last year to finish with more than 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 90 steals and 60 blocks. He averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
Toronto also returns leading scorer RJ Barrett, who averaged career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (6.3) and assists (5.4), and Jakob Poeltl, who set career bests in points (14.5) and rebounds (9.6).
To boost an offense that ranked 23rd in scoring, the Raptors added Brandon Ingram. He averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists in six seasons with the Pelicans.
Toronto also regains the services of Immanuel Quickley, who averaged 17.1 points and 5.8 assists last season but missed 49 games. That included 22 due to a partial UCL tear in his left elbow.
“What’s impressed me is how much everybody has bought into trying to figure out where everybody else likes to play or wants the ball, or what they’re comfortable in,” Poeltl said. “Nobody so far seems to be going out trying to mark their own territory. Everybody is asking the question, ‘Hey, what do you want to do in this situation?'”
The Hawks will be led again by point guard Trae Young, who led the league in total assists (880) and assists per game (11.6) last season. The four-time All-Star joined Oscar Robertson, Nate Archibald and James Harden as the only players to average at least 24 points and 11 assists.
The other key returnee is Dyson Daniels, who was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player and was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Daniels averaged 14.1 points and led the league with 3.0 steals. He signed a four-year contract extension worth $100 million in the days leading up to the season.
Atlanta also has a healthy Jalen Johnson in the lineup. Johnson, who was limited to 36 games last year by a torn left labrum that required surgery, averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
“It’s been a long time since January, so I’m excited to get out on the court,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to be full-go and fully healthy going into the season.”
Atlanta’s biggest addition is Kristaps Porzingis, who came from Boston in an offseason three-team trade. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 42 games.
