ZICARELLI: Who will we see next season when the Raptors play in the Finals at home?

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The home stretch of the Raptors' schedule ended with a 140-123 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

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Former Raptor Pascal Siakam unexpectedly received the loudest ovation during his pregame introductions.

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When Toronto's season began in late October, the team opened what it considered a transition year with a home date against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Raptors won on the night of October 25, with Siakam as part of the team's starting lineup.

It's telling of a Raptors season if only three players were active on opening night in the club's home finale.

Only Gary Trent Jr., who was still with the team when this disaster of a season began, was in Tuesday's game against Indiana.

In retrospect, it was a minor miracle that the Raptors were able to knock off the Timberwolves.

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When the Raptors return to Scotiabank Arena to begin their 30th anniversary in the NBA, it's anyone's guess how many available players will be on the team on Tuesday.

Of course Grady Dick will have a role.

Dick sat out Sunday's home finale because of a groin strain he suffered in Sunday's win over visiting Washington.

The newcomer was given the task of giving a public address, a tradition that saw many perform their duties on some interesting occasions.

Dressed in a white turtleneck and sweatpants, the boy appeared a bit shy and shy as he held his microphone too far from his mouth.

At the urging of his teammates, Dick spoke briefly to the sparse crowd.

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“You guys are the best,” he said. “And see you next season.”

It happened.

Dick must have regretted the assignment, there was no roar in the audience.

Remember what Dick had to say?

If the Raptors treated the event with the respect it deserves, a player like Scotty Barnes, who played his last home game on March 1, should have addressed the crowd with thoughts that made more sense than Dick's brief practice.

Toronto's March 1 home loss to Golden State was also Barnes' final game of the season. That night, he injured his left arm and underwent surgery soon after.

Barnes returned to the bench to see the Pacers and his former teammate Siakam.

Immanuel Quickley was also in street clothes after scoring a season-high 31 points in the win over the Wizards.

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All indications are that Quickley and the Raptors will come to some sort of deal this coming offseason.

Unless negotiations go completely off the rails similar to Toronto's season, with three games left, Quickley will have to return and be asked to ride shotgun with Barnes as the two primary ball handlers.

Kelly Olynyk and RJ Barrett's names can be written with a pen.

Jakob Poeltl is already out due to injury, but the jury is still out on whether head coach Darko Rajakovic will be the right fit for the big man.

When it comes to rim protection, paint protection and glass cleaning, Poeltl offers Toronto's best.

It's best to pencil in his name for now, as all options should be explored this offseason as the Raptors begin their roster-building process.

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In the first half on Tuesday, Trent went 1-for-7, missed all four of his long shots and generally looked unmotivated.

There's no guarantee Trent will return, even if he offers a much-needed shooting threat, ideally in a reserve role.

Olynyk, Barrett, Trent, Ochai Agbaji and Javon Freeman-Liberty started Tuesday.

JFL is an interesting piece. He opened the game by scoring seven of Toronto's first nine points and had 14 points in the first quarter.

He played well at a time when the Raptors were looking for a viable backup at the point position.

The Brooklyn Raptors play the Nets on Wednesday, followed by two season-ending games in Miami, giving the JFL some extended minutes to show off their skills.

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The first player to replace Rajakovic in the season opener against Minnesota was Jalen McDaniels, a free agent acquired by the Raptors in the offseason.

He signed a two-year deal.

Coming off the end of his first season in Toronto, it wasn't one of the team's best free agency moves.

The two players acquired in the deal that sent Siakam to Indiana were Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora.

Brown showed the Denver Nuggets last spring that he can work well in a secondary role, serving as a key component of their bench.

Brown's return to the Raptors will surprise many.

Nwora can score, but his defense is lacking.

The Raptors will have to find out, if they haven't already, whether Nwora's offense can make up for his lack of defense.

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For now, Nwora's future as a Raptor can be chalked up to uncertainty.

A change of scenery is good for Chris Boucher, but only time will tell where the final stretch of the Raptors' 2019 championship season will end up when the nightcaps open this fall.

A handful of players remain, but a small piece will be lost as the Raptors turn the page.

Rajakovic isn't going anywhere, but he needs a good roster to accommodate players whose futures aren't in doubt.

“It's been a tough season,” Rajakovic said. “I know everyone in this organization is working hard to change that.

“We are at the beginning of a new process. It will take some time. We promise we'll be better, and we'll be right.”

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