Toronto Raptors 2022-23 NBA preview: Can Pascal Siakam take the next step and become one of the game's elite?

This was a rather low-key offseason for Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors. Aside from signing Otto Porter Jr. in free agency, the only other noteworthy item from the summer was that they sniffed around in the Kevin Durant trade market before the superstar forward returned to the Brooklyn Nets.

Durant was never traded in part because no team was willing to pay the price the Nets were demanding. For the Raptors, that meant keeping reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes off the table. Once they reportedly told the Nets that asking for Barnes was a "non-starter," there was never any hope of a deal.

Their faith in Barnes is well-placed after an excellent rookie season in which he put up 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while making an impact on the defensive end that is rarely seen from players his age. More broadly, though, it reaffirms the belief they have in their organizational ability to get the best out of everyone who walks through the door.