TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have transitioned from their iconic “We The North” slogan to what some might call “We The Rebuilding North.”

It’s been five seasons since the Raptors enjoyed their glorious playoff journey that culminated in the franchise’s first NBA championship, resonating throughout Canada with packed outdoor viewing parties celebrating their victory over the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Currently, the Raptors roster lacks the household names that once defined their championship run. Kawhi Leonard departed after just one season, and while the Raptors started strong with a 46-18 record the following year, the COVID-19 pandemic halted their momentum in March 2020. In the NBA bubble that summer, they couldn’t recapture their previous form, losing a tightly contested seven-game playoff series to Boston in the second round.

The following season brought about challenges with border restrictions due to the pandemic, forcing the team to relocate to Tampa for an unsatisfactory season marred by losses. Several key players, including Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet, have since left, either by transfer or trade.

In April 2023, Nick Nurse, who led the Raptors to their first championship as a rookie coach, was dismissed shortly after the team squandered a 19-point lead in a home play-in game against Chicago. The offseason saw further significant changes, as Pascal Siakam was traded to Indiana and OG Anunoby was sent to the Knicks, leaving Chris Boucher as the only remaining player from the title-winning squad, despite having played just four minutes in that postseason.

As the Raptors kick off their 30th season, the future seems uncertain. Raptors president Masai Ujiri has openly described the current roster as a retooling effort. “We’re going to play to win, but it is a rebuilding team. I think everybody sees that quite loud and clear,” he stated at the start of training camp.

One focal point of this rebuilding effort is 23-year-old forward Scottie Barnes, who was the rookie of the year and earned his first All-Star nod last season. Barnes achieved personal bests in several categories, including scoring, 3-point shooting, and rebounding. This summer, he signed a contract extension potentially worth up to $270 million if he qualifies for supermax status.

Ujiri praised Barnes’s hard work throughout the summer, indicating that his dedication has justified the substantial contract extension. “What I’ve seen this whole summer is dedication to work, dedication to really pay attention to what he wants to get better at,” Ujiri remarked, expressing confidence in Barnes’s anticipated growth this season.

The Raptors are also optimistic about guard Immanuel Quickley, who joined alongside Canadian forward RJ Barrett in the Anunoby trade. Quickley initially felt uncertain about the transition but has embraced his role with the Raptors and adjusted well to life in Toronto under head coach Darko Rajakovic.

“This has probably been one of the best things that’s happened to me,” Quickley reflected on his trade to Toronto, expressing excitement about the opportunities ahead.

However, center Jakob Poeltl and his teammates recognize that returning to championship contention is a long journey. “This has to be a long-term project,” Poeltl asserted. “Our expectation isn’t to win 65 games this year and be in the NBA Finals. I think we can have good, positive experiences just based on how we develop and how we improve over the year.”