Summer League stars, final cuts and playoff hopes

The Toronto Raptors have a 2-0 start in Summer League, and their defense was the story. This group has raved the ball, created chaos in passing alleys and forced a bunch of sales through mere energy and effort. It is early and it is the summer league, but the defensive identity you show was difficult to ignore.

Since the roster is mostly on the way to the training camp, the focus is now shifting to internal development. Can this group defend at a high level in the regular season? Who deserves the last duty roster spaces? And what kind of ceiling does this team have if things go properly?

Let's dig into the latest Raptors Mailbag. If you have a question for a future edition, send it to Instagram @aaronbenrose.

What about Chris Boucher? – @inthebeaches

I wrote about Chris Boucher's later departure for at least two years, but this time it actually happens. The Raptors changed from him during the season to concentrate on their younger, developmental players, and now it is official. I assume that he will be on a list next season and will probably come from the bank at an inexpensive deal.

Who are the candidates to be cut before the season? – @wil_degroot

AJ Lawson and Colin Castleton have non -guaranteed standard contracts, so they are the most obvious candidates. David Roddy and Clifford Omoruyi are 10s in Appendix and are probably also cut. The raptors have already guaranteed the minimum contract of Jamison Battle, so I don't see that they separated from him.

Are the raptors looking for the big fish this season? – @Peter_tu1029

I think they're done. Perhaps something wild appears and they plunge, but the general sense is that the squad is set for the next season.

Can we hold all players from the two lists we have used in the summer league? – @wil_degroot

You can keep all of you. At the moment Castleton seems to be the strange man. Lawson looks like the favorite that guarantees his business. The other eight players are already in the standard or in two ways.

Do the raptors win the summer league? – @587lucas2K20

You could. They were the second most common team that won the summer league behind Utah, who has already lost several times. The raptors are one of the most experienced squads in Vegas and seem to have a legitive chemistry. If you want to win it, you should be favorites.

What do you think that the raptors have a top 5 defense this season? – @demystifyingpaul

Very low. You defended well in the summer league, but that is mostly low competition without much cohesion. And it was Toronto's regular season bankmen who make the heavy lifting. How many above -average defenders are among the top six or seven in terms of regular season rotation? Two, maybe three? I don't think you will be a top 5 defense.

Will the raptors make it into the playoffs? – @Abilaash1

I don't expect you to be a top-Six team. It is more likely that you will have to end up in the play-in mix and win two games to make the playoffs. Vegas does not believe that they will arrive there and I would say that they are really marginally.