Even with a few key additions, the Raptors don’t expect to be much different this season than they were last.
They hope to play the same aggressive, disruptive defence that had them among the top 10 in the league in the second half of the 2024-25 season and expect to play an offence predicated on ball and player movement.
The major roster changes — Brandon Ingram into the starting lineup, Sandro Mamukelashvili as the backup centre and, likely, rookie Collin Murray-Boyles into the rotation somewhere — are significant but there is a large measure of consistency the team hopes to rely on.
Four starters are back in Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. The bulk of the second unit will comprise Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo. All have experience and a familiarity with each other that should help.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic expects to use a rotation that goes at least 10 deep and maybe 11, meaning a majority of the team’s bench will be relied on to contribute.
“I think it felt that we’re not starting from a zero … we’re really starting to build on the foundation that we created this last season in and over the summer,” Rajakovic said. “So (the) majority of the guys, they know how we want to play. They know our basic principles, and they can really help during the practice, keep other players, younger players, new players accountable.”
A look at the anticipated opening night roster (all dollar figures in U.S. and for this season):
Immanuel Quickley
Vitals: 26 years old, six-foot-three, 194 pounds.
Contract: $32 million, second season of five-year deal.
Last year: 17.1 points per game, 5.8 assists per game, 33 games played.
Storylines: Health and availability have been an issue over a season and a half; can he play 70 games a season? Will play more off-the-ball this season than he has.
X-factor: Wants to average 10 three-point field goal attempts. Will he?
RJ Barrett
Vitals: 25 years old, six-foot-seven, 218 pounds.
Position: Guard/forward.
Contract: $27.7 million, expires after 2026-27 season.
Last year: Team-high 21.1 ppg, 6.3 rebounds per game, 35 per cent three-point shooting.
Storylines: He’s a local guy who loves to play at home. Will that be OK when he’s third in the pecking order behind Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram?
X-factor: He’ll be in trade rumours. Will they come true?
Brandon Ingram
Vitals: 28 years old, six-foot-eight, 212 pounds.
Contract: $38 million, first season of three-year deal.
Last year: 22.2 ppg, 37.4 three-point shooting, played only 18 games with New Orleans.
Storylines: How fast can he start after not playing an NBA game since last December?
X-factor: How he co-exists with similarly skilled Barnes.
Scottie Barnes needs to get to the rim and not settle for mid-range shots this season.
Scottie Barnes
Vitals: 24 years old, six-foot-eight, 236 pounds.
Contract: $38.6 million, first season of five-year deal.
Last year: 19.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.8 apg, shot 45 per cent from field, 27 per cent from three-point range.
Storylines: He’s become a defensive force but his offence hasn’t been consistent over his three seasons. Has to get to the rim and not settle for mid-range shots.
X-factor: How’s that three-point shot looking these days?
Jakob Poeltl
Vitals: 29 years old, seven-feet, 253 pounds.
Contract: $19.5-million, three-year extension kicks in 2026-27 season.
Last year: 14.5 ppg, team-best 9.6 rpg, 63 per cent shooting from the field.
Storylines: He’s the great connector in the offence, will that change with the presence of Ingram and his shot-creation skills? Will his free-throw shooting (67 per cent) improve?
X-factor: If he’s worked on mid-range shots, he’s a more potent threat.
Jamal Shead
Vitals: 23 years old, six-feet, 198 pounds.
Contract: $1.9 million, second season of three-year deal.
Last year: Appeared in team-high 75 games, 7.1 ppg, 4.2 apg.
Storylines: Emerged as solid second-unit point guard. What has he added to his game in his second year? Will he be a more competent finisher at the rim?
X-factor: Three-point shooting (32.3 per cent on three attempts per game) has to improve.
Ja’Kobe Walter needs to get used to the physicality of the game to be a more complete player.
Ja’Kobe Walter
Vitals: 21 years old, six-foot-four, 204 pounds.
Contract: $3.6 million, second season of four-year rookie scale contract.
Last year: 18 games started as a rookie, 8.6 ppg, 35 per cent three-point shooting.
Storylines: He couldn’t stay healthy in his rookie season. Can he this year? Needs to get used to the physicality of the game to be a more complete player.
X-factor: Can he beat out Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji to be a regular member of the rotation?
Gradey Dick
Vitals: 21 years old, six-foot-seven, 208 pounds.
Position: Guard/forward.
Contract: $4.9 million, third season of four-year rookie scale contract.
Last year: Started all 54 games he played in, 35 per cent three-point shooting on six attempts per game.
Storylines: Moving to the bench after being a season-long starter but should be a featured scorer with the second unit. Needs to be a more active rebounder.
X-factor: After fast start, a so-so finish last season. Has to put together a season-long stretch of consistent play.
Ochai Agbaji
Vitals: 25 years old, six-foot-five, 219 pounds.
Position: Forward/guard.
Contract: $6.3 million, final year of rookie scale contract
Last year: 10.4 ppg in 64 games (45 starts), 40 per cent from three.
Storylines: Abundant promise but it’s time for him to really have an impact on games; will continue to get toughest defensive assignment every game.
X-factor: Expiring contract may have to be dealt to get Raptors out of the luxury tax.
Collin Murray-Boyles
Vitals: 20 years old, six-foot-seven, 239 pounds.
Contract: $6.3 million, first of four-year rookie scale contract.
Last year: 16.8 ppg, 8.3 apg in 32 games as a sophomore at South Carolina.
X-factor: Like all rookies, how will he handle the nightly challenges he’ll be facing?
Sandro Mamukelashvili’s three-point shooting should be a boon to the Raptors’ second unit.
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Vitals: 26 years old, six-foot-nine, 240 pounds.
Position: Centre/forward.
Contract: $2.4 million, first season of two-year deal.
Last year: 11.2 minutes per game in 61 games with San Antonio, 6.3 ppg, 37.3 per cent from three.
Storylines: Getting a regular spot in an NBA rotation for the first time in his career. His three-point shooting should be a boon to the team’s second unit.
X-factor: Needs to be a consistent producer every game now that he’s presented with the chance.
Jonathan Mogbo
Vitals: 23 years old, six-foot-seven, 216 pounds.
Position: Forward/centre.
Contract: $1.9 million, second season of three-year deal.
Last year: 20 mpg game in 63 games as a rookie, 6.2 ppg.
Storylines: Will float between backup power forward and third-string centre but needs to find a niche. Still needs much work on his shooting range.
X-factor: Seems to be good insurance if injuries hit the front court.
Garrett Temple
Vitals: 39 years old, six-foot-five, 194 pounds.
Contract: $2.3 million, one-year contract.
Last year: Appeared in 28 games off the bench, value came from locker-room leadership.
Storylines: The veteran, entering his 16th NBA season, still commands the ultimate respect from teammates and coaching and, in a pinch, can play a few minutes if necessary.
X-factor: If he is playing regular minutes, the roster’s decimated and things are a mess.
Jamison Battle
Vitals: 24 years old, six-foot-six, 228 pounds.
Contract: $1.9 million, second of three-year deal.
Last year: Shot team-best 41 per cent from three, 17.7 mpg in 59 games (10 starts).
Storylines: The team’s best three-point shooter but needs work on his defence and playing without the ball to get any traction on cracking the rotation.
X-factor: Good bench insurance if a trade to ease tax burden creates an opening for him.
In this week’s mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on the Blue Jays, the ALCS schedule, the Raptors pre-season, Chris Boucher and much more.
In this week’s mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on the Blue Jays, the ALCS schedule, the Raptors pre-season, Chris Boucher and much more.
A.J. Lawson
Vitals: 25 years old, six-foot-six, 185 pounds.
Last year: Played in 26 games, joining team mid-way in season, 3.9 three-point attempts in 18.7 mpg.
Storylines: Was cut from non-guaranteed contract last week, signed two-way deal on Saturday. Deep insurance with a player familiar with the team, system.
X-factor: Local Mississauga product will get to play in front of friends, family.
Alijah Martin
Vitals: 23 years old, six-foot-two, 208 pounds.
Position: Guard/forward.
Last year: Led Florida to Final Four championship after taking Florida Atlantic to Final Four appearance in 2024
Storylines: The 39th pick in last June’s draft will get a lot of playing time in the G League and should see some time as a deep rotation player with the Raptors as an emergency fill-in.
X-factor: Defensive skills are his most impressive trait.
Chucky Hepburn
Vitals: 22 years old, six-foot-two, 190 pounds.
Last year: Averaged 16.4 ppg as a Louisville senior after three seasons at Wisconsin.
Storylines: Undrafted guard was the defensive player of the year in the ACC and an all-American. Left school early but couldn’t sneak in the second round of the NBA draft.
X-factor: How much he learns practising against Quickley, Shead and Martin will aid development.
