Toronto Raptors · Franchise era 7 of 7
The Barnes rebuild: the Toronto Raptors story
Franchise era
2020–21—present
The Barnes rebuild
Toronto Raptors
The story in one sentence
The Tampa season disrupted the old core, and Barnes's arrival eventually became the foundation for a younger, more flexible roster.
01
A new point forward anchors the reset
02
Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet gave the era its recognizable core.
03
Its final meaning is still being written.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2020–21
What came before
Toronto traded a beloved star for Leonard and was rewarded with the 2019 championship, then defended the title proudly after his departure.
2022
Eastern Conference First Round: Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers
2026
Eastern Conference First Round: Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Still unfolding
Where the story stands
This chapter remains active, so its final place in franchise history is still being written.
The core