Editing Toronto Raptors (section)

====2019–2021: Pandemic-shortened seasons====
[[File:Pascal Siakam 2018.jpg|thumb|left|upright|In the 2019–20 NBA season, [[Pascal Siakam]] was named as a starter in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and a part of the All-NBA Second Team.]]
The fear that Leonard would depart after only one season materialized when he signed with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kawhi Leonard Officially Signs with Clippers |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/kawhi-leonard-los-angeles-clippers-official-1.5206812 |access-date=July 21, 2021 |agency=[[CBC Sports]] |date=July 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816064050/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/kawhi-leonard-los-angeles-clippers-official-1.5206812 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nonetheless, the Raptors managed to win 53 games in [[2019–20 NBA season|a season]] shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic to secure the second seed and the second best record in the league. Their winning percentage (73.6 per cent) was the best in franchise history,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rose |first1=Aaron |title=Raptors Conclude Winningest Season in Franchise History |url=https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/winningest-season |access-date=July 21, 2021 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721030221/https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/winningest-season |url-status=live }}</ref> with the season also seeing Nurse being named as Coach of the Year; additionally, [[Pascal Siakam]] made his first [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA]] Second Team, as well as being a starter in the [[2020 NBA All-Star Game]] as well as [[Kyle Lowry]] making his sixth consecutive [[NBA All-Star Game|all-star]] selection. In the [[2020 NBA playoffs|playoffs]]—which began later than usual in August, at the [[2020 NBA Bubble|"Bubble"]] in Walt Disney World in [[Bay Lake, Florida]] near Orlando—the Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 4–0 in the first round.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Helin |first1=Kurt |title=Toronto's Nick Nurse Named NBA Coach of the Year |url=https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/08/22/torontos-nick-nurse-named-nba-coach-of-the-year/ |access-date=July 21, 2021 |agency=[[NBC Sports]] |date=August 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721022959/https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/08/22/torontos-nick-nurse-named-nba-coach-of-the-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lopez |first1=Andrew |title=Raptors Ride Bench to Sweep of Nets, First Playoff Series with Celtics |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29727877/raptors-ride-bench-sweep-nets-first-playoff-series-celtics |access-date=July 21, 2021 |agency=[[ESPN]] |date=August 23, 2020 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816210030/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29727877/raptors-ride-bench-sweep-nets-first-playoff-series-celtics |url-status=live }}</ref> They went down 0–2 against the Boston Celtics in the next round, before [[OG Anunoby]] scored a buzzer-beater to win Toronto the third game. The series eventually went to seven games, with Boston prevailing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Sam |title=Celtics vs. Raptors Score: Boston Holds On to Pull Off Win in Game 7 Over Toronto |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-vs-raptors-score-boston-holds-on-to-pull-off-win-in-game-7-over-toronto/live/ |access-date=July 21, 2021 |agency=[[CBS Sports]] |date=September 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721021612/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-vs-raptors-score-boston-holds-on-to-pull-off-win-in-game-7-over-toronto/live/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Raptors were unable to host games in Toronto and played their home games for the [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21 season]] at [[Amalie Arena]] in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Toronto Raptors to play home games in Tampa to open NBA season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30354415/toronto-raptors-play-home-games-tampa-open-nba-season |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 20, 2020 |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120182041/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30354415/toronto-raptors-play-home-games-tampa-open-nba-season |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 28, 2021, due to NBA's COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols, the Raptors suffered their first postponement, in a scheduled game versus the [[Chicago Bulls]], At the time, the Raptors were fourth in the East.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rose|first=Aaron|title=What We Know About the Toronto Raptors COVID-19 Issues|url=https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-covid19-health-and-safety-issues|access-date=March 5, 2021|website=Sports Illustrated Toronto Raptors News, Analysis and More|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301033524/https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-covid19-health-and-safety-issues|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|title=Raptors Game Postponed Due To Health & Safety Reasons|url=https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-chicago-bulls-game-postponed-covid19-health-and-safety|access-date=March 5, 2021|website=Sports Illustrated Toronto Raptors News, Analysis and More|archive-date=August 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816092708/https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-chicago-bulls-game-postponed-covid19-health-and-safety|url-status=live}}</ref> They did not play again until March 3, but with five players missing due to the safety protocols, including Siakam, Anunoby, Lowry and [[Fred VanVleet]], as well as head coach Nurse, resulting the Raptors to tank, Toronto lost 129–105 to the [[Detroit Pistons]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Detroit Pistons use red-hot shooting to cruise past shorthanded Toronto Raptors|url=https://ca.nba.com/news/toronto-raptors-vs-detroit-pistons-game-recap-takeaways-shorthanded-norman-powell-lowry-baynes-wayne-ellington-boucher-smith/1gnfac5fculqv1pzzgy7j0vu6u|last=McGregor|first=Gilbert|access-date=March 5, 2021|website=ca.nba.com|date=March 4, 2021|publisher=NBA|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310100553/https://ca.nba.com/news/toronto-raptors-vs-detroit-pistons-game-recap-takeaways-shorthanded-norman-powell-lowry-baynes-wayne-ellington-boucher-smith/1gnfac5fculqv1pzzgy7j0vu6u|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Raptors remain severely short-handed as team readies for Celtics|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/raptors-miss-players-and-coaches-against-celtics-1.5936929|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305013056/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/raptors-miss-players-and-coaches-against-celtics-1.5936929|url-status=live}}</ref> The Raptors ultimately missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. For the [[2021 NBA draft]], the Raptors jumped up to the fourth pick after having the seventh-best odds in the [[2021 NBA draft|2021]] [[NBA draft lottery]]. With the fourth pick in the 2021 NBA draft, the Raptors selected guard/forward [[Scottie Barnes]] from [[Florida State Seminoles|Florida State]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Raptors select Scottie Barnes with No. 4 pick in 2021 NBA Draft|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/raptors-select-scottie-barnes-no-4-pick-2021-nba-draft/|access-date=July 30, 2021|website=Sportsnet.ca|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730025328/https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/raptors-select-scottie-barnes-no-4-pick-2021-nba-draft/|url-status=live}}</ref>