Toronto took a significant step forward this season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference and reaching the playoffs for the first time in four years. However, despite the progress, it became clear that the Raptors still lacked the roster depth needed to make a serious postseason run. That weakness ultimately contributed to their first-round exit at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.

Even if Toronto had managed to upset Cleveland, the road ahead would have only become more difficult. The Raptors have struggled against both the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks in recent years. They are just 1-7 in their last eight meetings with the Pistons and have lost 13 straight games to the Knicks. There are levels to this thing, and the Raptors — despite climbing some rungs — remain with a long road to walk.

A major weakness in the Raptors roster is their lack of depth. When injuries sidelined Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram during the playoffs, Toronto had no choice but to lean heavily on players near the end of its bench. 

Jamison Battle delivered an outstanding performance in Game 3, but asking an inexperienced player to consistently fill a major role in a playoff series was unrealistic. The same applies to young contributors such as Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and AJ Lawson, who showed promise throughout the season but are still developing into dependable rotation pieces.

Part of the Raptors’ depth issue stems from how much money is tied up in their current core. Jakob Poeltl recently signed a four-year, $104 million extension, while Quickley remains under contract through 2029 after signing a five-year, $175 million deal in 2024. Both players have had valuable moments in Toronto, but neither has consistently produced at a level that fully justifies their cap hit.

When so much of the salary cap is committed to players outside of the team’s true star tier, building a deep roster becomes significantly more challenging. Compare that to the two teams currently playing for a championship.

The Knicks have built around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, while the Spurs have done the same with Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. Both teams feature a superstar and an All-Star second option, but they also possess quality depth throughout their rotations.

A major reason why is financial flexibility. In 2024, Brunson famously left money on the table by signing a team-friendly extension rather than waiting for a supermax contract, giving New York greater flexibility to build around him. Meanwhile, Wembanyama remains on his rookie contract, allowing San Antonio to invest heavily elsewhere on the roster while still benefiting from superstar-level production. That has allowed both teams to find incredible contributors from the deep bench, with Landrey Shamet perhaps most vividly exemplifying the value depth can offer a team in the playoffs.

The situations are different, but the lesson is the same: contenders need stars, and they need depth around those stars.

Quickley and Poeltl have both contributed to Toronto’s recent success, and moving on from popular players is never easy. However, if the Raptors are serious about taking the next step, the path forward may require difficult decisions. 

Whether that means moving one of those contracts or reshaping the roster in another way, the goal should be clear: surround Scottie Barnes with a deeper, more complete supporting cast.

The Knicks and Spurs have shown what a championship-calibre roster looks like. Now it’s up to Toronto to decide whether it’s willing and able to follow that blueprint.

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The post Tempo DOMINATE Sky Inside As Izzy Harrison Makes Her Debut | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Led by another commanding performance from Nyara Sabally, the Tempo took down the Sky for a second time this season on Sunday as they dominated the paint en route to an 85-68 win, bringing their record to 6-5. Toronto is also now 1-1 in the Commissioner’s Cup after dropping their first game at the New York Liberty on Wednesday.

Sabally’s excelled against the Sky this season. She put up a career-high 29 points on outrageous efficiency the last time the two teams met in Chicago, and was on pace for even more on Sunday after scoring 10 in the first quarter. She picked Sky guard Jacy Sheldon and ran out for the finish, used deft footwork to maneuver baseline and drop in a floater and was a force on the roll.

The six-foot-five big also stuffed Sky centre Camilla Kardoso with a two-handed contest.

Size can be deceptive in basketball.

Kardoso is among the league’s tallest players at six-foot-seven, yet Sabally has played bigger in their two matchups. What she gives up in height has been more than made up for in strength and guile. Kardoso scored only two points in their first matchup in Chicago. She had nine this time around on 2-of-6 shooting.

While Sabally was bashing and bruising down low, Toronto’s big-money backcourt showed they weren’t afraid to still grind it out too. Brittney Sykes, who insists on being called Slim, pushed off a rebound, going the length of the floor and slicing through traffic for a tough finish. She drove the rim early and often. Meanwhile Mabrey had a hard block on Sheldon and high-pointed a rebound.

The shot making wasn’t there to the same level that it usually is — Mabrey attempted only one 3 in the first half, coming off a wide screen and drilling it in a phone booth — as the Sky loaded up and ran her off the line. But she took advantage of the coverage by continually finding Sabally rolling to the rim with clever passes.

The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Mabrey, subtly snuck another pass through a blitz to Sabally who drove for the offhanded finish, putting the Tempo up 48-33 at halftime.

The start of the second half was more of the same. Slim was relentless getting to the rim. Mabrey missed a shot but grabbed a steal — if she isn’t going to score, she’s still going to make a difference. Laura Juskaite made a fadeaway and drew free throws with heady, aggressive play. It feels like the Tempo are settling into their identity, both as individuals and how they fit together as a collective, and they rode that to a comfortable win.

Slim established her driving game further as the game went on. She had 13 in the third to bring her scoring total to a team-high 22 through three frames. But even when Slim missed — coming off a get action into a double drag screen — Isabelle Harrison was there to clean it up for the and-1 putback.

Harrison made her season debut Sunday after missing all but one day of training camp and the first 10 games of the season with a right hand injury.

A previous New York Liberty player under Brondello, Harrison scored 14 and added six rebounds in 17 minutes.

“She’s worked her butt off,” Brondello said. “I think what she brings is veteran leadership. She’s a big body, so rim protection helps. It’s the screening and rolling and finishing at the rim.”

Harrison was seen working on her screening and rolling footwork before the game, along with shooting and post-ups. Her first Tempo basket came after she was the screener for Maria Conde in Gut Chicago, popped atop the three-point arc and splashed a triple. Soon after, she ghosted a screen, caught, pump-faked her defender and drove to the hoop for a hard finish.

The return of the veteran forward also seemed to slot other players into more suitable roles, as Conde played more like a wing than ever before — handling the ball and taking pull-up 3s, and Laura Juskaite slid over to the 3 at times also.

“We never expected we’d be playing all our perimeter players as post players,” Brondello said pregame. “Usually it’s the other way around. But that’s the versatility, isn’t it? It’s like just doing what we need for the team to happen — like Maria Conde has never played that position (forward) at all in her pro life, but it’s just embracing every challenge because in the end it is basketball.”

Brondello also turned to a favourite turn of phrase of hers: “Post players give screens, but they also get screens.”

Sabally has been ever-versatile, mostly functioning as a screener, but also effectively setting up actions in five-out sets — after coming off a screen in twirl action, for example.

The Tempo’s next game is on Wednesday, when they’ll host the Connecticut Sun. While they’ve gained balance with Harrison back, Kiki Rice is still going to need significant time to recover from the medial ankle sprain she sustained at the end of last Wednesday’s game against New York.

“It’s not day to day and she’ll need a little bit of time off here,” Brondello said. “But she’s young and she’ll quickly heal. Hopefully we can get her back, I don’t know, in a few weeks.

“I’m not sure of the actual timeline.”

Chicago Sky

68 – 85

Toronto Tempo

A	Nyara Sabally 25 MIN, 15 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 7-14 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 16 +/- Cooled down throughout the game, but came out as a force. Was the main reason the Tempo led by 14 after the first quarter. Her footwork and wherewithal on rolls were impeccable and she had deft touch at the rim. Also grabbed o-boards, protected the rim, just all-around did her job at a high level. Proving she's a starting WNBA big.
B	Laura Juskaite 22 MIN, 10 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-10 FG, 0-3 3FG, 6-7 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 7 +/- Before the game, Brondello spoke about Juskaite getting accustomed to a new role in ball screen coverages, but praised her constant energy and activity, and that shone through yet again Sunday. She missed a lot, but one play stood out to me in particular, where she took the ball to the rim with vigour on a keeper play. Didn't go but loved the aggression.
A	Brittney Sykes 30 MIN, 25 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 9-23 FG, 0-3 3FG, 7-9 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 17 +/- Skyes constantly knifing to the rim is the lifeblood of the Tempo offence right now and she keeps coming through time and again. The vet really sets the tone, or, ahem, Tempo, for the group. Only 77 percent from the free throw line in this game though, well below the lofty 90 percent bar she set for herself this season.
A-	Marina Mabrey 30 MIN, 9 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 3-9 FG, 1-5 3FG, 2-2 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 15 +/- Her shot wasn't going down, and she was being run off the line, but responded with excellent reads. Six well-deserved assists. Some truly great pocket passes to Sabally and Juskaite. Stayed calm and made the right play when blitzed.
B+	Julie Allemand 26 MIN, 4 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 16 +/- Made a wild drop-off bounce pass to Harrison for two points. Did a fantastic job facilitating offence with Rice out. Knows how to put her teammates in the right spots, and that includes herself! After a cool Stagger Get Elevator set got blown up, she back cut on a Mabrey drive for an easy layup.
A+	Isabelle Harrison 17 MIN, 14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 6-9 FG, 2-2 3FG, 0-1 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 15 +/- Couldn't have asked for a better debut. Izzy looked locked in, with superb footwork on screens and note-perfect decision-making in her execution (that pump and go on the closeout was dynamite). Her size and awareness were a boon to the defence as well. If Harrison keeps doing this, she'll be a significant addition.
B-	Maria Conde 24 MIN, 5 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 2-8 FG, 1-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 +/- Not a good shooting night, but Conde did appear to play more free and loose than she did previously. Only turned over the ball once with her increased handling responsibilities and made astute passes. Punched up on the glass, too.
B+	Teonni Key 12 MIN, 1 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 2 BLK, 1 TO, -4 +/- Swatted Skylar Diggins and Azura Stevens in the second quarter and was a steady presence in the paint and on the glass. Offered exactly what's needed out of her as a backup big.
C	Kia Nurse 9 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -1 +/- Hung in on defence at times, and also didn't at others, picking up three fouls in under nine minutes.
Inc	Tima Pouye 3 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 +/- Garbage time.
A	Sandy Brondello Plenty of clever sets in this game. The wide screen for Mabrey, the Stagger Get Elevator mentioned previously, some cool stuff shorting the pick n' roll, UCLA Gut Chicago — which has been previously highlighted by Evin Gualberto. Also seems like Brondello is really starting to get familiar with her players' strengths and developing a strong feel for how to use them situationally. A gunner like Mabrey seamlessly adjusting to playmaker when her hand was forced by the defence shows how much players are buying in.

Things we saw

1. The Tempo outscored the Sky 46-30 in the paint, an area where they've struggled this season. Toronto ranks 12th in paint scoring and has allowed the second-most points in the paint per game.
2. The Tempo made a season-worst four triples in this game and shot a season-worst 18 percent. It was impressive that they were able to overcome a faltering strength by ameliorating a weakness and carving out opportunities inside.

G

The post Quick Reaction: Sky 68, Tempo 85 first appeared on Raptors Republic.

After receiving a huge payday last summer, Jakob Poeltl had an injury-riddled season that saw him play in only 46 regular-season games while averaging 10.7 points,7 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.9 blocks in just 25 minutes per game (lowest outputs since returning to Toronto in the 2022-23 season).

A surprising name that has come up as a potential addition to the frontcourt is current New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson.

They share similar playstyles in the sense that they are both old-school big men who don’t shoot the three-ball, but what Robinson brings is a much better presence in the paint on the defensive end. In fact, that’s pretty much all that he’s known for, but he is among the best at it as the 8-year pro hasn’t had a season of less than 1.1 blocks per game in his long career. He’s also a great rebounder, an area in which Toronto was weak, especially when Poeltl was out due to injury, as Robinson averages an impressive 8 rebounds on a career average of 23.4 minutes per game.

After being in the market for Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis during the regular season, maybe Toronto can go back to hunting for those two, as Washington has stated that they are open to trading the former champion even after acquiring him, and the Sacramento Kings just had the fourth worst record in the NBA (tied with Utah on 22 wins for last place in Western Conference), so they should be open to kick-starting yet another rebuild.

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The post Report: Raptors searching for Center upgrade first appeared on Raptors Republic.

That sounds scary when you put it like that, and I’m slowly starting to learn (armed with some excellent advice from my Mom) that you can’t look at the big picture that way. You need to make a plan with defined steps, goals, and milestones that help you reach your end goal. So for the Raptors, instead of the saying ‘improve the team this offseason’ we need to break it down into the individual tasks they can complete to get there. The journey begins one step a time, and this one starts with the NBA draft.

June 23 – Draft: Make selections at 19 and 50

It’s unlikely that the Raptors, or any team for that matter will make any moves ahead of the draft, so the first action of the offseason will come on draft night. The Raptors currently own the 19th and 50th picks in the draft and with the class boasting a deep pool of players, there’s an opportunity to add at least one impact player.

I’ve given up on predicting who the Raptors may draft, as they seem to always go in an unpredictable direction, but others at Raptors Republic have done some excellent work in this area. Brendan Stewart has done thorough analysis on Morez Johnson Jr. and Ebuka Okorie, with more to come, and Samson Folk has done podcasts covering various draft targets including an episode on Johnson Jr., Allen Graves, Billy Richmond III and another on Cam Carr, Jayden Quaintance, and Christian Anderson. For the real basketball sickos, Samson has also done an episode on some options for the 50th overall pick as well.

The Raptors could try and trade up in this draft if they have their hearts set on a guy projected to go higher, but there will be great options at 19 if they stay put.

Canvas the trade market

While I’m generally a believer in continuity, and I don’t think a trade should be made for the sake of making a trade, if there’s an opportunity to get Barnes a real co-star, you have to strike now. The longer the playoffs have gone on, the more beatable the league has looked. Well, outside of the New York Knicks who are currently riding a 13-game playoff win streak.

Some of the biggest names on the market — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis — have all been linked to the Raptors at one point or another, but with the new lottery rules the Raptors picks (which they own all of) may have increased value. Perhaps they can entice a team to part ways with a player they otherwise wouldn’t.

Outside of any superstar trades, they could look at guys like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins of the Oklahoma City Thunder who both fell out of the rotation in the playoffs this year and are rumoured to be on the move. Joe is a career 40% three point shooter and Wiggins had a down year but has shot 38% over his career.

The other trade looming over the Raptors’ offseason is one that would see their 2023 first-rounder Gradey Dick get a fresh start somewhere else. There’s been rumours that he’s open to a trade and that the Raptors are open to trading him. The remaining question is if any team out there is willing to trade anything for him.

June 30 – Free Agency: Re-sign Sandro Mamukelashvili

Barring any trades, the Raptors don’t really have any money to do anything in free agency, which is okay because this year’s class isn’t anything too special. The only real goal the Raptors should have is to retain Mamukelashvili, who had a breakout season in Toronto this year. His performance this past season may have pushed him out of the Raptors’ price range, but he’s emphasized the importance of finding the right fit over the most money. That’s easy to say when the difference is small, but if a team throws him a big bag, akin to what the Orlando Magic did with Bismack Biyombo in 2016, he’s as good as gone.

Re-signing Mamukelashvili is another reason why the Raptors may try to move off Dick, if they can create some cap space with a trade they can use that money to keep Mamukelashvili, who fits excellently alongside Barnes.

Don’t sign RJ Barrett to an extension

While this is more of a to-don’t than a to-do, the Raptors should not be signing Barrett to an extension this offseason. This has nothing to do with whether Barrett should be on the team and everything to do with preserving future flexibility and not overpaying yet another asset. I personally love Barrett, and I think he’s an excellent player who stirs the drink for the Raptors. In the playoffs he showcased his importance as a driver and shot maker. He fits well alongside Barnes and is still young with potential for growth.

But, the Raptors have a mess of a cap sheet right now, and they got into that mess by paying players before they had to. Jakob Poeltl for example, they extended while he still had two years left on his contract, which almost never happens for players of his caliber, that deal has already hamstrung them so badly and the extension hasn’t even kicked in yet. Brandon Ingram they signed to a three year extension before he even played a game for the team, and while that was likely agreed to before the trade was finalized, they could have played hardball a little bit, who else was offering that kind of money? They signed Quickley to an extension early into his Raptors tenure as well, and again before they had to, though with it being a flat contract and his play improving as the year went on, it doesn’t look bad. If it stood alone I’d have no issue, but it’s part of a pattern they’ve demonstrated of paying guys too early, and that’s where the issue lies. While I undoubtedly want Barrett on the team long-term, they literally can’t afford to make that mistake again.

Pray for a Jakob Poeltl miracle

The last thing on the Raptors offseason to-do list is to hope and pray that a magic fairy or a genie can perform a miracle and fix Poeltl’s back pain. A healthy Poeltl would change so much for this team. When he’s feeling good, and moving quickly he’s an excellent backline defender for the chaos that Barnes creates up front, his screen setting, push shot, and passing combination elevates the Raptors offense and he’s the only seven-footer on the roster.

The team is trending upwards, they were one game away from a second round appearance, the East is open and the Knicks are proving that perhaps the whole league is open. The Raptors have gained a ton of intel on what’s needed to improve. Whether it’s a big splash or moves around the edges, they need to have a plan and execute it. They can’t mess this one up.

The post 5 key items on the Raptors’ offseason to-do list first appeared on Raptors Republic.

And at the same time, to get a sense of what kind of player the Raps could be acquiring it would be a smart idea to take a look back at the last ten No.19 picks in NBA history and see how they fared during their time in the NBA. What are reasonable expectations for Toronto’s first-round pick in 2026?

2015: Jerian Grant (G) – drafted by the Washington Wizards

Current Status: Panathinaikos B.C. (Greek Basket League)

Peak Status: Deep bench piece

We start with Jerian Grant, and if you’re a Raptors fan, the way his career unfolded probably won’t sit well with you.

It took Grant just five seasons in the NBA before he made the move overseas, joining both the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague.

From the moment he was drafted, Grant’s NBA career was a constant journey. After being selected by the Washington Wizards in 2015, he was immediately included in a multi-team trade that sent him first to the Atlanta Hawks and then to the New York Knicks before he had even played a game.

Over the course of his NBA career, Grant also suited up for the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and eventually returned to Washington before his time in the league came to an end.

For a player selected in the first round, Grant was widely viewed as a disappointment. He never averaged more than 10 points per game in a season and rarely saw more than 20 minutes of action on a consistent basis.

2016: Malik Beasley (SG) – drafted by the Denver Nuggets

Current Status: Free agent

Peak Status: NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate

Malik Beasley has had a pretty interesting career, to say the least.

Coming off the 2024-25 season with the Detroit Pistons, Beasley was playing some of the best basketball of his life. He finished as the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year and helped Detroit snap its playoff drought by securing a postseason berth.

He also put together one of the greatest three-point shooting seasons we’ve ever seen. Beasley knocked down an incredible 319 threes, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to make 300 or more in a single season. The only other players to reach that mark are Stephen Curry, James Harden, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Edwards.

At this point, there’s no question that Beasley would still be a valuable piece on just about any contending team. Few players can provide the kind of floor spacing and instant offense that he brings.

The problem is that basketball isn’t the main story surrounding Beasley right now. He’s currently awaiting clearance from an ongoing league investigation involving alleged improper gambling activity and prop betting.

If the Raptors had ended up with a player like Beasley at No. 19, they’d probably be thrilled with the outcome. Well, at least if you take away all the noise surrounding the gambling allegations.

2017: John Collins (F) – drafted by the Atlanta Hawks

Current Status: Starting calibre player

Peak Status: 20-10 double-double threat

John Collins has put together a pretty solid NBA career so far.

While durability has occasionally been an issue, he hasn’t played more than 73 games in a season since his rookie year, Collins has consistently proven himself as a reliable starter and productive front court player.

The best season of his career came in 2019-20 with the Atlanta Hawks. That year, Collins was basically a walking double-double, averaging 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. What’s even more impressive was that the stretch four was knocking down over 40 percent of his shoots from beyond the arc during that span.

2018: Kevin Huerter (SG) – drafted by the Atlanta Hawks

Current Status: Bench option

Peak Status: Starter on a playoff team

The Raptors this season are not the only team in history to be picking at No. 19 in back-to-back drafts as the Hawks were in that exact spot not too long ago.

Like I mentioned above, Atlanta hit on John Collins, but Kevin Huerter is a bit more of a mixed case.

Still, with that being said, Huerter has stuck around as a solid rotation player though. He’s been able to carve out a role as a shooting wing who can space the floor and get hot from three.

His best year came in 2022-23 with Sacramento. He played 75 games, started all of them, and put up 15.2 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and just over 40 percent from three.

2019: Luka Samanic (F) – drafted by San Antonio Spurs

Current Status: Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russian VTB United League)

Peak Status: Back of the bench NBA guy

Luka Samanic was a swing-and-miss pick for the Spurs.

At the time, he was viewed as a risky overseas prospect, a modern big who could stretch the floor, but it just never really came together at the NBA level.

He struggled to find minutes in his first couple of seasons, and even after San Antonio moved on from him during his rookie deal, he got another opportunity with the Utah Jazz. However, it was more of the same there, and he couldn’t really carve out a consistent role.

This is considered one of the worst number 19 selections over the past ten seasons.

2020: Saddiq Bey (G) – drafted by Brooklyn Nets

Current Status: Productive starter

Peak Status: Productive Starter

Saddiq Bey has quietly built a really solid NBA career as a dependable role player, with the upside to slide into a starting spot when needed.

Bey was another rookie traded on draft night before ever having the chance to suit up for the team that selected him. He was selected by the Brooklyn Nets and traded as part of a three-team deal to the Detroit Pistons.

He did unfortunately hit a major setback in 2024-25 when he tore his ACL and missed the entire season. But he bounced back nicely the following year with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025-26, putting up a career-high 17.7 points per game.

2021: Kai Jones (F) – drafted by Charlotte Hornets

Current Status: Anadolu Efes (EuroLeague)

Peak Status: Back of the bench depth piece

Kai Jones is another player who gets labeled a draft bust. He was picked by the Hornets in 2021 and had real upside because of his athleticism, but things never came together.

He struggled to find a consistent role on the court, and off the court things got messy. During his time in Charlotte he posted strange videos, criticized teammates, and even publicly asked for a trade on X (formerly known as Twitter). Eventually, the relationship with the team broke down and he was waived.

Jones got another shot with the Dallas Mavericks but even with a new organisation he struggled to make any meaningful impact.

2022: Jake LaRavia (F) – drafted by Memphis Grizzlies

Current Status: 3-and-D bench piece

Peak Status: 7th man bench player

Jake LaRavia is already on his third NBA team after being drafted by Memphis, traded to Sacramento, and then landing with the Lakers in free agency.

He’s a depth wing who brings energy and effort, especially on the defensive end. Offensively, the consistency isn’t quite there yet, but he stays useful because he plays his role and doesn’t need the ball to impact the game.

One underrated thing about him is durability, he was one of only 18 players to appear in all 82 games last season. In the right system, that kind of availability and effort still holds real value.

2023: Brandin Podziemski (G) – drafted by Golden State Warriors

Current Status: Sixth man option

Peak Status: Starting guard on a playoff team

The Golden State Warriors may have found their starting shooting guard of the future with the 19th pick in the 2023 draft.

Podziemski has already carved out a role as a high-IQ combo guard in the NBA, showing steady production across the board. He’s averaged 11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game so far in his career.

Like LaRavia, he was also one of just 18 players in the league to play all 82 games last season, showing both durability and trust from his coaching staff. He is someone who has consistently improved each year and the Raptors would be ecstatic to have a guy like him on the squad.

2024: Ja’Kobe Walter (G) – drafted by Toronto Raptors

Current Status: Reliable bench option

Peak Status: Starting guard on a playoff team

The Raptors might’ve landed a real win with the 19th pick a couple years ago.

Walter made a clear jump in his second season, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs. He has proven that he can be a starting guard in the future of this league.

He finished the year averaging 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. He also stood out as the only Raptors player taking at least three threes per game and hitting them at a 40 percent clip.

2025: Nolan Traore (G) – drafted by Brooklyn Nets

Current Status: Bench piece with upside

Peak Status: Starting guard on a non-playoff team

The Brooklyn Nets had a busy draft last season, coming in with five first-round picks and using four of them on ball handlers and playmakers. One of those selections was French guard Nolan Traore.

He appeared in 56 games, starting 31. Traore averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. His season started slowly, but he settled in after the All-Star break and looked much more comfortable running the offense.

Traoré brings real value as a defender and playmaker, but his scoring efficiency is still a work in progress. He shot just 38 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three, which remains the biggest area for growth.

The value of the 19th pick

Looking at the history of the 19th pick over the last decade, it hasn’t exactly been a spot that consistently produces stars, but it has still delivered a mix of solid contributors and a few players with real upside. The Raptors already seem to have done well once with Walter at 19 in 2024, and now they’ll be hoping to strike again in 2026 with a group of prospects that once again carries plenty of intriguing potential.

The post Raptors’ 2026 NBA Draft: A recent history of the 19th overall pick first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Today’s prospect is Ebuka Okorie, who is likely to slide in as my top choice of the available guards in the Raptors’ draft range. We haven’t really seen a college guard carry this much of an offensive load since Trae Young’s days as an Oklahoma Sooner, and Okorie is doing it with impressive efficiency and control as a lead ball handler. The Raptors really need to hit on some talent in this draft, and Ebuka Okorie looks like the next clear-cut all-star guard who could fall into the Raptors’ lap at the 19th selection.

Ebuka Okorie

Height: 6’1.25 | Wingspan: 6’7.75 | Weight: 186 lbs | Age on Draft Day: 19
College: Stanford | NBA Position: PG | Role: Shot Creator

The Good (Offensive Demon)

Ebuka is simply an explosive athlete. Capable of some serious speed in a straight line while being one of the best in the draft at directional changes and deceleration, Ebuka’s speed is dizzying for those watching him, let alone those foolish enough to try and defend him on his drives. His explosive first step helped him become one of the best rim finishers in college basketball.

Ebuka averaged 8 rim attempts per game, converting at a rate of 54.5%. Not an outlandish number on its own, but the insanely high volume of attempts while converting an above average efficiency for a smaller guard speaks volumes about his talent at generating touches and finishing effectively.

Ebuka is simply the best guard in the class at controlling his body and verticality. Combined with his ridiculously tight handles, he possesses all the tools to remain an effective slasher and rim-scoring guard at the NBA level, his height simply doesn’t matter when he has the skill and athleticism to nullify any defensive presence.

89% of his makes at the rim were unassisted, speaking to his supernatural shot creating abilities. Even if he didn’t make his shots, Ebuka generated 7.3 free throw attempts per game and made 83% of them. He lets the game come to him and knows how to use his body to generate contact and get calls.

Ebuka is a Moreyball dream, shooting 80% of his jumpshots from beyond the arc, and converting at a 35% rate. He also converted 34% of 108 off-the-dribble three point attempts, so there are very encouraging signs of his ability to generate offence off-the-dribble away from the basket. It’s difficult to see him as anything other than an effective scorer from range and inside. He generated efficient looks both in isolation and as a P&R ball handler, so he’s not a one-trick pony either.

The assist numbers are low, but Ebuka is a positive playmaker with a 23.9% AST rate and a 1.9 AST/TO ratio. Having a sky high usage of 30.1% while only averaging 1.9 TOs show just how well he takes care of the ball.

His explosive athleticism translates to the defensive side of the ball where he plays actively and with effort. A 2.7% STL rate combined with the rakes that he has for arms means that he should at least be able to be a solid guard defender in the NBA. Raptors fans should know not to judge smaller guards on their height alone when it comes to defensive prowess. He competes on the defensive end without ever really fouling that much either.

The Bad (Size, Role Concerns)

At 6’1.25 barefoot, Ebuka likely will top out around 6’3 in shoes on an NBA court. I understand the size concerns in a league that is becoming more obsessed with height, but with a near 6’8 wingspan, I don’t think he’ll be as big of a liability on defence as some might believe.

I don’t think you want Ebuka to put on too much weight, lest you impact his speed, but he could probably afford to top out in the 190-200lb range and be comfortable with his length and strength aiding him on the defensive end.

I’d like to see Ebuka evolve a bit more as a playmaker. It’s difficult to project a floor general here, but he shows encouraging signs with his ability to take care of the ball. He tended to hunt his own shot a lot at Stanford, which was fine due to how effective he was as an offensive option, but he’ll need to get used to involving his teammates more and especially stepping up his drive-and-kick game at the NBA level against bigger defenders.

I don’t have many concerns about his long term outlook as a shooter, but the release point on his show is low which is something to monitor in his early NBA career.

The Fit (The Next Raptor Point Guard)

I think we’ve come to realize that Immanuel Quickley isn’t the long-term solution at point if the goal is to win another championship. Ebuka can slot in as a backup in the short term with the eventual goal of taking over the reigns at the starting point guard position. With his ability to generate rim pressue, this will create more space for guys like Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes to operate. It will also allow the team to slow down the game in key moments when Ebuka generates fouls. On the defensive end, I don’t really see any evidence to suggest Ebuka couldn’t at least hold his own against opposing guards due to his incredibly long wingspan and active defensive effort that he plays with.

The Raptors haven’t really had a guard as offensively gifted as Ebuka Okorie in the modern era, and I really struggle to see how he would be anything other than a seamless fit beside Scottie Barnes.

Conclusion

I’m really not concerned about a player’s size if they possess the skills to succeed at the next level. Ebuka is arguably the most explosive guard in the draft and easily the best at changing speeds and direction to generate offence at the rim. With a USG rate above 30%, Ebuka showed that he can handle heavy offensive loads while maintaining his impressive efficiency and control over the basketball.

If Ebuka Okorie is available at 19, I really think he’s a no-brainer selection.

Consensus NBA Draft Range: 15-25

Brendan’s Ranking: 14th

Floor Projection: Microwave scoring guard in limited situational minutes off the bench.

Ceiling Projection: All-star capable of carrying a team’s offensive load with positive defensive flashes (Tyrese Maxey-esque).

The post 2026 NBA Draft: The Raptors NEED Ebuka Okorie at point guard first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk is joined by Ben Pfeifer to break down some draft prospects.

From Brendan’s piece:

“I really struggle to find much wrong with Morez’s game. He’s unselfish, he doesn’t play beyond his skillset offensively and finishes with elite efficiency, he isn’t a shooter but has a good enough of a shot to take the occasional three, he defends and hustles with the best of them, he’s an active rebounder, mobile perimeter defender, strong and reactive rim deterrent, and he’s only 20 years old with championship experience. Do you wish that he was a couple inches taller? Sure, but Morez is the definition of a player who plays bigger than his height, and I have no concerns about his ability to match up against NBA centres. He’s practically unshakeable on both ends of the floor when it comes to playing against physicality, just due to his raw strength. If for some reason he struggles to match up against bigs full time in the league and has to stay as a 4, Morez still projects as being able to give you valuable defensive minutes as a rotation piece, so I can’t really see a scenario where he busts.

I don’t care about positions of need, and neither should you. Go for best player available – that would be Morez at pick 19 regardless of who else is on the board. Yes, Morez is expected to have a bit of a stock bump after posting some very good numbers at the draft combine, but he’s still ultimately expected to go in the Raptors’ range at the end of the day. I have yet to have many discussions with scouts who expect him to go high in the lottery, but I don’t see him falling past the Spurs at 20 either.

Consensus NBA Draft Range: 14-20

Brendan’s Ranking: 11th

Floor Projection: Rotation hustle big, energy minutes off the bench.

Ceiling Projection: High-impact, two-way starting big, capable of making an all-defence team. Fringe all star in the right scenario and if the shot continues to develop.”

Have a blessed day.

The post Raptors Draft Options: CAM CARR, JAYDEN QUAINTANCE, CHRISTIAN ANDERSON + more first appeared on Raptors Republic.

RJ Barrett named as one of Team Canada’s pool of players ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers

On June 1st, Team Canada Basketball revealed the group of 24 players that will be a part of the 3-year cycle for their senior men’s basketball team.

Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett has made the list. The Mississauga, Ontario Native just wrapped up a solid season averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game through 57 contests.

Scottie Barnes snubbed for NBA All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA

Although Scottie Barnes finished fifth in defensive player of the year voting he still found himself left off the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team list by 17 points.

Barnes had a remarkable season. He was named an All-Star, he helped Toronto earn a 16-win improvement from the previous season, he averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

Barnes finished the season ninth for most steals with 114 and sixth for most blocks with 116. If that isn’t impressive enough, he was the only player in the NBA to have at least 100 in both those categories.

Despite being snubbed, Barnes at least was still able to earn an All-Defensive Second Team award.

Toronto Raptors pre-draft rookie workout tracker

The pre-draft process is in full swing for the Toronto Raptors. Here is the list of names of players that have reportedly worked out with the team so far.

• Zuby Ejiofor, F, St John’s, Senior
• Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa, Senior
• Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas, Freshman
• Baba Miller, F, Cincinnati, Senior
• Tre Carroll, F, Xavier, Senior
• JVonne Hadley, G, Louisville, Senior

To get more information on who these players are check out this piece published by Matthew Mountjoy: Toronto Raptors Pre-draft rookie workout tracker: Stirtz, Miller, and more

Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic receives Coach of the Year vote

On May 26th, the league announced the results of this year’s Coach of the Year race. 

While the winner was Boston Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic received a single 3rd place vote, becoming one of 12 NBA coaches to receive at least one vote this season.

In his third season as a head coach for the Raps, Rajakovic helped Toronto earn the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, earn a postseason berth for the first time in four years and helped improve from a 30 win team in 2024-25 to a 46 win team in 2025-26.

The post Raptors Weekly Wrap-Up: Scottie Barnes snubbed, more first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The former Toronto star has had some amazing moments over the years. He ranks first in franchise history in assists, three-pointers made, steals, triple-doubles, and win shares. More importantly, he played a pivotal role in delivering the Raptors’ first and only NBA championship in 2019.

So when it comes to deciding who belongs on the Raptors’ Mount Rushmore, Lowry’s opinion carries significant weight. During a recent appearance with @PleaseRelateToThis, Lowry revealed his personal Raptors Mount Rushmore. This list included: himself, Vince Carter, DeMar DeRozan, and Alvin Williams.

While the first three names are hardly surprising, Williams’ inclusion is bound to spark debate among Raptors fans. Building a Mount Rushmore is never easy. Worthy candidates always seem to be left out, and in this case, several franchise legends have strong arguments for being up there.

One of those names is Kawhi Leonard. Although he spent just one season in Toronto, it could be argued that it was the greatest individual season in franchise history.

Leonard led the Raptors to the 2019 championship and delivered one of the most memorable playoff runs the NBA has ever seen. He scored 732 points during the postseason which is the third-highest total in a single playoff run in league history.

Along the way, he hit the iconic four-bounce buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of round two, posterized Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Eastern Conference Finals, and dominated the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals to help end their dynasty.

To cap it all off, Leonard became just the third player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with two different teams and the first to accomplish the feat with franchises from both conferences.

Another notable player is Chris Bosh. The Hall of Famer emerged as an All-Star in just his third NBA season and enjoyed a remarkable five-year stretch in Toronto, averaging 22.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. During that span, he was the only player in the league to hit all three marks.

Bosh also helped stabilize the franchise following Vince Carter’s departure, leading the Raptors to three consecutive playoff appearances and ushering in a new era of competitiveness.

Then there’s Pascal Siakam, whose resume continues to grow in significance as time passes. Across eight seasons in Toronto, Siakam became one of the most accomplished players in franchise history, ranking fifth among the team’s all-time leaders in games played and points scored.

He was also a key contributor to the 2019 championship team and captured the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award during that same season.

As for Williams, his impact on Raptors history shouldn’t be overlooked. He was regarded as a fan favourite and respected leader. Still, when comparing resumes many fans would likely argue that Leonard, Bosh, or Siakam have stronger cases for a spot on the mountain.

Then again, Mount Rushmore debates are rarely objective. Personal relationships often influence opinions, and Lowry’s connection with Williams runs deep. Both are Philadelphia natives and Villanova products, sharing a connection to each other that extends well beyond their ties to the Raptors.

Whether fans agree with Lowry’s choices or not, one thing is certain: any Raptors Mount Rushmore conversation begins with the GROAT himself.

The post The GROAT has Spoken: Kyle Lowry reveals his Raptors Mount Rushmore first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Ah Jamison Battle… Perhaps the Raptor with the largest disparity between the playing time most believe he should get, and how much playing time he actually receives. There was a lot of confusion, and even anger surrounding Battle’s minutes this season. I know this because I was one of the confused, at times angry people who questioned why the human embodiment of a flamethrower couldn’t get minutes on a team that desperately needed the one skill he excelled in.

Coming into the season, it was pretty clear that Battle was going to be slotted as the Raptors’ fourth-string shooting guard. I said before the season started that maybe we would even see him play some games with the Raptors 905 as the Raptors figured out what they had in Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Ochai Agbaji (who you may recall shot 39.9% from deep last season). So when the season began and he didn’t get many minutes, that was no surprise. The first surprise with his minutes came right after the Raptors 112-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a victory in which Battle — coming off two straight games without a single minute — exploded for 20 second half points to propel the Raptors to the win without missing a shot.

And how many minutes did he get the next night?

Two minutes, and ten seconds.

That was the most frustrating, and confusing thing about Battle’s playing time. It never seemed to matter how well he performed, his minutes distribution seemed random.

Two theories began to take shape on his lack of minutes. The first was that his defense was holding him back, though throughout the regular season he finished with opponents scoring less while he was on the court according to Cleaning the Glass. Is he a great defender? No, but he wasn’t bringing the team down. Given the fact that the offense was 6.8 points per 100 possesions better when he was on the court, I don’t think the defense argument holds enough weight. What he provided offensively was far more valuable than any perceived defensive drawbacks.

The other theory was the ‘politics’ of it all as Samson Folk succinctly described in a piece he wrote in November.

From the organization/coaching perspective? Dick is a lottery pick who is up for extension this year (and still has boatloads of potential at 21 years old). Walter had a promising defensive start to his career and is only 21. Agbaji is heading into free agency this upcoming season. There is a mix of basketball politics and development here. I’m not going to point fingers, but having talked to a lot of people around and in NBA organizations over the years, teams try to play nice with agents and in turn will offer guys runways to try and play themselves into money. I don’t even mind that. Guys deserve to have a look, especially when their next year isn’t guaranteed. It’s all part of the calculus.

Battle’s contract is friendly to the team, available next season, and he’s a pretty consistent and unflappable player. His route to the NBA has shown a repeated ability to out play guys who were considered better than he was. Players who had a larger organizational vote of confidence than he did. He just shows up, hits triples, does his job. Does his thing.

This theory seems more rational even if I go back and forth on how I feel about the general concept. The only piece that doesn’t add up is that even after Agbaji was traded, and Dick saw his minutes dwindle, none of those minutes trickled down to Battle.

Even though his minutes weren’t consistent, Battle was when he was on the court. Over the season he shot 41.2% from deep, he showed strong flashes as a cutter, he opened the floor for his teammates and he had a positive net rating with nearly every single teammate he played with (the only players he was neutral or negative with was Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, and Alijah Martin). He is a certified Cavalier killer, both for the aforementioned game, and for propelling the Raptors (alongside RJ Barrett) to a game three victory in their first round series behind a 14-point fourth quarter eruption.

Battle is entering the final season of his contract, and while we know exactly who he is and what he can do, he’s never been a priority in the organization despite fitting the exact archetype of player that fits alongside Scottie Barnes. We’ll see if that changes this offseason, the Raptors have lots of decisions to make and whether it’s here in Toronto or somewhere else, Battle deserves to be a full-time rotation player.

The post Jamison Battle found consistency in instability first appeared on Raptors Republic.

In the past, Toronto has had a pretty decent track record of finding value late in the draft. Some of the bigger names tied to the Raps that have been selected in the second round in years prior include Norman Powell and PJ Tucker.

And of course, we all know they famously landed Fred VanVleet as an undrafted free agent. So with that being said the front office has an eye for this kind of stuff and pick No. 50 presents another opportunity to add a developmental prospect with upside.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, the Raptors could target Dillon Mitchell in the second round.

Mitchell is an intriguing prospect because of his combination of size, athleticism and defensive versatility. The 6-foot-8 forward plays with a relentless motor and has the tools to become the type of glue guy every team desires.His skill set has drawn comparisons to Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon.

At the collegiate level, Mitchell earned Big East All-Defensive Team honours while averaging 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He also shot an efficient 55.9 percent from the field.

Yahoo Sports draft analyst Kevin O’Connor projects the Raptors to select Tennessee big man Felix Okpara.

O’Connor described Okpara as a player who understands his role, protecting the rim, running the floor, finishing lobs and setting screens without trying to do too much offensively.

Okpara elevated his play during Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight. In the Round of 32, he made several game-changing defensive plays, including four key blocks. He followed that up with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Sweet 16, showcasing flashes of his offensive potential.

His defensive impact throughout the season earned him a spot on the All-SEC Defensive Team.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has Toronto selecting UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau.

Bilodeau would bring a skill set the Raptors could use immediately. The 6-foot-8 forward is a highly efficient scorer who averaged a career-high 17.6 points per game as a senior while shooting 51 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. He also contributed 5.6 rebounds per game.

Even though UCLA had a disappointing end to their season, Bilodeau was clearly not the problem. He has earned back-to-back All-Big Ten Third Team selections along with multiple NABC All-District honours.

The biggest question surrounding his game is on the defensive end, but Toronto’s roster is built around versatile defenders who could help cover some of those shortcomings. Head coach Darko Rajakovic has also shown a willingness to develop young players, making Bilodeau an intriguing fit if he is still available.

The Raptors have made a habit of uncovering talent in the later stages of the draft. With the 50th pick, they will be hoping to find another hidden gem and add to that tradition in 2026.

The post NBA Draft experts and rumours: Who analysts have Raptors taking at No. 50 first appeared on Raptors Republic.