Raptors look to build on banner 2015-16 season

When we left the Toronto Raptors back in May, the team had finally broken through, making a statement this was no longer one of the NBA’s laughingstock franchises.

Last season was clearly the greatest in franchise history. Two playoff series wins, taking the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers to six games in the Eastern Conference finals, hosting a memorable all-star weekend, completing a state-of-the-art practice facility and adding a minor league feeder team. Nowhere to go but down then, right?

Well, not if you ask Dwane Casey, Masai Ujiri, Kyle Lowry or pretty much anyone else associated with the Raptors.

After so many false starts and false hopes, the belief is that finally, something sustainable has been constructed. While nobody can match up with the Cavs, the East remains underwhelming overall, meaning the Raptors should be in the mix once more.

While there was no Kevin Durant signing, or even a Pau Gasol acquisition ( though the Spanish legend was very close to a deal with the club before opting for San Antonio), DeMar DeRozan was re- signed, Casey, Ujiri and his front office staff was retained and reinforcements arrived in the form of former NCAA standout Jared Sullinger and a pair of first-round selections.

But Bismack Biyombo is gone ( more on that later), the entire conference will be gunning for the Raptors now and DeRozan will have to prove that what was easily the best season of his career ( much- improved efficiency, playoffs aside) was the new normal and not some kind of aberration.

Lucky for Casey and his retooled coaching staff, Low- ry, one of the five best players in the conference a year ago, should be even better, knowing that he will cash in as a free agent next summer with his first truly megacontract. Lowry turned into a huge bargain after signing his previous deal, giving the Raptors elite production at a reduced cost, much like Jose Bautista did for the Blue Jays for so many years.

Patrick Patterson is in a contract year too, while Jonas Valanciunas is out to make up for what he himself described as a poor summer of work with Lithuania.

Continuity can be a huge advantage in the NBA, but it has been a rarity in Toronto over the years. For the most part, the gang is back, but Biyombo’s absence looms large.

Biyombo is the rare linchpin who can both keep the locker room loose with his good-natured humour while still leading on the court with a nearly unmatched compete level.

The Raptors believe in time rookies Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam — with their quick feet and good hands — will boost t he front- line, but young big men seldom contribute in meaningful ways until Year 2 or 3.

Valanciunas and Lucas Nogueira can’t do the things defensively Biyombo can ( though they can do quite a bit more offensively).

Everyone is going to have to pick up the slack on defence. Having a healthy DeMarre Carroll from the jump and more minutes for intriguing guard Norman Powell should be hugely beneficial.

For once, optimism abounds. But with that good feeling come heightened expectations.

If last year was all about avenging a playoff humiliation at the hands of the Washington Wizards, this one will centre on proving that the 2015-16 breakthrough was not all smoke and mirrors.