Losing Fred VanVleet May Have Been a Happy Accident For Raptors Despite Loss to Rockets

wwwwwwMaybe everyone is where they’re supposed to be.

Fred VanVleet’s departure hadn’t been part of the plan for the Toronto Raptors. By all accounts, the organization wanted him back. They tried almost everything last summer to entice him back, offering him more guaranteed money than anyone else. But VanVleet could see what was coming in Toronto and with $84 million guaranteed over the next two years, the Houston Rockets’ offer was too good to pass up.

What would have happened had VanVleet re-signed?

Would Toronto have just run back the same group even more bought in than before? Would the results have changed from last season? If they hadn’t, would Toronto still have dealt Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby the way they did this year?

VanVleet’s departure was kind of a happy accident for the Raptors. It allowed Toronto the flexibility to usher in a new era and hand the organization over to Scottie Barnes.

For that, everyone is better off. The Rockets are finally on their way to relevance, having already eclipsed their win total from last season thanks to a 135-106 victory over Toronto. The Raptors, meanwhile, have picked a direction and despite the losses, Barnes’ growth as Toronto’s top option this season has been remarkable.

VanVleet’s impact on the Rockets has been clear this season. They’re more serious, more organized, and simply better. Last year, Houston would have butchered their two-for-one opportunity at the end of the first. With VanVleet, though, it’s different. He nailed a pull-up three with 29 seconds to go in the quarter then came right back down and hit a fadeaway 22-footer over Thad Young as time expired.

Classic VanVleet.

The former Raptors finished the night with 10 points and six assists in 25 minutes.

For Toronto, Barnes’ development has been the only saving grace lately. He looked far more comfortable with Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl back in the lineup and was imposing his will on the Rockets. He took turns going at Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks in isolation, at times beating both Houston’s top defenders to the hoop.

Of Barnes’ 28 points, 18 came in the paint. There was no settling for mid-range jumpers and taking ill-advised contested shots. Instead, Barnes was attacking, at one point flushing a one-handed slam right over Smith who couldn’t seem to contain Barnes off the dribble. He backed down Reggie Bullock Jr in the fourth quarter too, using his strength to beat the 6-foot-6 forward in the paint.

The problem for Toronto was nobody else really showed up.

Gradey Dick couldn’t connect from three-point range and finished the night 1-for-7 from the field. His only bright spots came on a couple of charges he drew against overzealous Rockets attackers.

Poeltl’s return didn’t fix the defense. He fouled out after just 20 minutes of playing time and was a minus-17 on the night. The Rockets as a team scored 76 points in the paint before the deep benches checked in late.

Quickley was better in his return, scoring 25 points for Toronto. He shot 7-for-16 from the field and attempted 11 three-pointers, the kind of number the Raptors are hoping he’ll average going forward. He added six assists without a turnover in a very solid return after three games off.

VanVleet and the Rockets just had their way with Toronto and essentially blew the Raptors out from the jump.

Third-year center Alperen Sengun looked like the best big man on the floor, dropping 24 points to go with 13 rebounds and eight assists. Rookie Cam Whitmore, taken seven picks after Dick, led the Rockets with 25 points off the bench.

Up Next: Oklahoma City Thunder

This Raptors road trip is about to get a whole lot tougher as Toronto ventures north to take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.