Raptors may be home, but pivotal season could determine team's ultimate direction

The last three Toronto Raptors seasons were far from average.

The 2021-22 iteration of the team might be exactly that.

There was the championship season in 2019, followed by a title defence stilted by COVID-19 and finished in the Disney bubble, and finally a mostly disastrous season played out of Tampa, Fla., due to pandemic-related restrictions in Canada.

Now, the Raptors enter a season free of championship expectations, and nearly devoid of playoff expectations, too. At least they'll be back in Toronto. 

The season begins on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards, and after local capacity restrictions were increased, in front of what is expected to be a sold-out Scotiabank Arena.

But the team is much different than when it last played in Toronto in February 2020.

In return, the Raptors received young centre Precious Achiuwa, an athlete who fits the long and versatile team vision, and veteran point guard Goran Dragic, a mid-season trade candidate if the Raptors find themselves on the outside of the playoffs at the deadline.