Samson Folk is joined by James Bu to discuss two dark horse draft candidates for the Raptors at pick 19.

From Brendan’s latest on Steinbach:

“For a team lacking a strong, interior rebounding presence, Hannes would fit like a dream as a core future piece of the Raptors.

Hannes’ motor, rebounding, and pick-and-roll feel would complement Scottie Barnes nicely as both are high-IQ forwards who play with physicality and can operate as short-roll connectors. The Raps’ player development (which turned CMB into a near-immediate contributor) could also help him max out his potential as a shooter. While the Raptors have struggled at actually developing shooting, they seem to have more success with players who join the team already possessing some established shooting skills, like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

The Raptors would still need to address multiple concerns that Hannes simply can’t provide, such as advantage creation, guard play, and a more advanced shooting profile, but he would be a great brick to lay in the team’s growing foundation.

I would be surprised if Hannes falls to the 19th pick, but there are a lot of draft pundits out there who seem to think he may be falling from his mid-season consensus as a lottery lock. If he does fall to the 19th pick, the Raptors really shouldn’t think twice to add another versatile piece to their frontcourt.

Steinbach’s efficient offence, domineering physical profile, and elite rebounding project him to be quite impactful, even if there are some things he’ll need to work on.

Consensus NBA Draft Range: 12-20

Brendan’s Ranking: 15th

Floor Projection: Rebounding force who can shoot the occasional three in key backup minutes. Uncertain role projection could keep him from becoming a fully impactful starting player.

Median Projection: Possession generating, floor spacing, starting big in the style of Bobby Portis/Jalen Smith, with the physical rebounding juice of Steven Adams.

Ceiling Projection: Domantas Sabonis with an edge/Minnesota Kevin Love.”

Have a blessed day.

The post Raptors Draft Dark Horses: MELEEK THOMAS & QUADIR COPELAND first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Although I just touched on how he has always been this clutch, the Raptors decided to move on from OG Anunoby in 2023, trading him alongside Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa to the Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 Detroit second-round pick that eventually became Jonathan Mogbo. Anunoby had been pining for more offensive responsibility, and the Raptors were pining for cheaper contracts.

Let’s start the analysis off with the Knicks. The two other pieces sent to the Knicks have since both left in free agency; Flynn would bounce around a few different teams before signing with the Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Basketbol Süper Ligi in Türkiye, while Precious Achiuwa would walk following the 2024-2025 season and sign a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Sacramento Kings. (Where he did almost single-handedly give Toronto one of its worst losses of its season.)

However, Anunoby has been a major bright spot on this team. His 3-and-D style has been great for the Knicks this series, going 5-5 from beyond the arc in the second half of Game Four alone. As mentioned in my previous analysis of Anunoby’s clutch shot, Anunoby served as the perfect player to kick out to in multiple moments during the second half.

Not to mention his defence. He is one of the most versatile and impactful defenders in the league from the wing spot, and his clutch blocks on De’Aaron Fox have been just as impactful as his shooting in these Finals.

Shifting over to the Raptors, they got a lot out of Anunoby, who was a high-value piece on a team that wouldn’t even crack 30 wins by the end of the year. This allowed them to gain value on a young forward and completely restart from the ground up, and a few years later, make the playoffs.

In that deal, the team got both its starting small forward and point guard in the deal — who have played some of their best basketball since arriving in Toronto, despite dealing with some injury concerns. Barrett especially has changed his game as a Raptor. Mogbo has mainly served as a bench player since arriving in Toronto, but he did start in 18 games in his first year.

And Barrett, of course, had a game-winner of his own this season.

All in all, I think both teams got a pretty good return out of this deal. The Knicks got a player that would become highly effective in their first Finals run since 1999, and the Raptors were able to begin a complete rebuild by getting two pieces of their core.

The post Revisiting the Raptors-Knicks Anunoby trade after his Finals game-winner first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Mystics ruin Marina Mabrey’s ELECTRIC Fourth Quarter and Tempo Comeback | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Marina Mabrey almost changed the game with a late push that saw her make four clutch threes in a row and a total of 18 points over the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to silence the Washington Mystics.

Sonia Citron nailed a buzzer-beater jumper to seal the deal 86-85 for the Mystics in a game that should have never been that close after how poor of a showing the Tempo gave in the third quarter.

Throughout the game, Toronto struggled to protect the ball. The difficulty began with 12 turnovers in the first half. Then, the Tempo went almost 13 minutes without a rebound from the end of the second and into most of the third. The Mystics’ size was a factor but could not be the sole reason they captured 39 rebounds to Toronto’s 21 throughout the game.

In contrast, the Mystics came out of the half strong and went on a 12-0 run that captured the lead and took the Tempo by surprise. Toronto struggled to recover against Washington’s momentum and didn’t find their own points until they switched up the lines to lean more on bench help.

It was a physical game from both teams, with Laura Juskaite and Temi Fagbenle both struggling with committing fouls. In Fagbenle’s first three minutes on the floor, she tallied three personal fouls, after which she had to spend some more time on the bench.

It was the Tempo’s first opportunity to string together three straight wins, but despite a dramatic comeback in the fourth, they couldn’t pull it off. Toronto is now 2-2 in Commissioner Cup play.

Toronto Tempo

85 – 86

Washington Mystics

B	Isabelle Harrison 28 MIN, 8 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL, 4-7 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 9 +/- She was a needed matchup against the Mystics in the paint. Her size was important and her four steals made a difference in helping the Tempo.
B-	Laura Juskaite 23 MIN, 8 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 2-6 FG, 0-3 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -9 +/- Laura Juskaite has been building her confidence in all parts of the game. She did struggle with controlling her defence though and committed four fouls.
A-	Brittney Sykes 31 MIN, 20 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 7-14 FG, 1-2 3FG, 5-6 FT, 1 BLK, 5 TO, -5 +/- Slim carried the Tempo’s offence in the first half but cooled down in the second. She was nearly unstoppable when attacking downhill but struggled on defence with the size mismatches.
A	Marina Mabrey 28 MIN, 27 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 9-15 FG, 5-10 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, -4 +/- Mabrey struggled with her three-point shooting to start and didn’t quite have the impact Toronto needed on offence—until she turned it on in the final minutes. By then, though, it was too late.
A-	Julie Allemand 26 MIN, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 4-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 15 +/- Literally the floor general for the Tempo. Allemand’s speed and pace dictated how the rest of her teammates showed up, and in moments when the game began to look hopeless for Toronto, her tough defence helped turn things around.
B	Maria Conde 22 MIN, 7 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 3-7 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 7 +/- Conde was an important part of changing the momentum in the second half. Conde had success on defence despite the size differences.
C	Teonni Key 15 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- The rookie's blocked shots and steals were critical defensive contributions, but she could have had a greater impact in the paint.
B-	Temi Fagbenle 8 MIN, 0 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/- This was Fagbenle's first game back since the season-opener on May 8, which was also against the Mystics. She had some timidness to her game on offence and struggled to control her physicality.
C+	Kia Nurse 3 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/- Had minimal impact with the few minutes she played.
B+	Tima Pouye 17 MIN, 4 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- Pouye was feisty on defence and a good decision maker with the ball. She’s had limited minutes since joining the team, but made them count in this one, especially in the end of the third quarter when the Tempo needed a new breath of life.
Inc	Sandy Brondello Coach did a good job of switching up the lines and leaning on the bench strength when things were not going right for the starters. However, while halftime needed to be a turning point for the Tempo, it turned the tides in the opposite direction.

Things we saw

1. The importance of rebounding. Toronto needed to go after the offensive and defensive boards with more desire and grit. Second chance points proved a big factor for Washington and the Tempo never had those opportunities.
2. Marina Mabrey is money. Even when her shots hadn't been falling in the first half, she found a way to turn it around in the fourth quarter where her 18 points almost flipped the outcome.

The post Quick Reaction: Tempo 85, Mystics 86 first appeared on Raptors Republic.

 The comeback was capped off by former Raptor OG Anunoby, who tipped in the go-ahead basket with just 1.2 seconds left to give New York a 107-106 lead. It reminded us of some things from long ago.

The NBA has given us plenty of memorable playoff comebacks over the years, and this latest one got me thinking about some of the biggest rallies in Raptors playoff history. Here are my top three.

3. OG Anunoby’s buzzer-beater vs. Boston Celtics (Game 3, 2020 Eastern Conference Semifinals)

As it turns out, Anunoby has a habit of coming through in big moments. The Raptors entered the 2020 playoffs as defending champions, but there were plenty of questions surrounding the team after Kawhi Leonard left for the Clippers. Could Toronto still compete without the player who had led them to their first title?

Well…it looked like maybe not as things didn’t start well against Boston. The Celtics won the first two games of the series and it looked like there was no slowing them down. However, Toronto was poised to show off their championship pedigree.

Toronto trailed by ten at halftime of Game 3 and spent most of the night trying to claw its way back. Late in the fourth quarter, the Raptors finally pulled even when Fred VanVleet scored on an acrobatic tough layup to tie the game at 101 with 21 seconds left.

Sadly, on the ensuing drive it looked like their season was probably coming to a close. After a defensive breakdown featuring Pascal Siakam, Celtics’ Daniel Theis threw down a dunk with 0.5 seconds remaining, putting Boston ahead by two. Most teams would have accepted defeat at that point…but like I said the Raptors are not like most teams.

After a timeout, Kyle Lowry delivered one of the greatest inbound passes in franchise history, lofting the ball beautifully over Tacko Fall and finding Anunoby in the corner. OG caught it, rose up and buried the three as the buzzer sounded.

The fact Toronto eventually lost the series in seven games is probably the only reason this comeback doesn’t rank higher.

2. Largest playoff comeback in franchise history vs. Indiana Pacers (Game 5, 2016 Eastern Conference First Round)

The Raptors came into the 2016 playoffs carrying plenty of baggage after back-to-back first-round exits.

Their series against Indiana was tied at two a piece heading into Game 5, and things looked ugly for Toronto early. The Pacers built a 17-point lead and still held a 13-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.

At that point, the Raptors hadn’t led once all game. However, what followed was one of the best defensive quarters the franchise has ever played.

Toronto completely shut down Indiana, contesting every one of the 15 shot attempts the Pacers took in the fourth quarter. The Raptors opened the frame on a 21-2 run and suddenly had a six-point lead.

Still, Toronto had to fight until the very end. Indiana had one final chance to force overtime when Solomon Hill knocked down a three at the buzzer, but replay showed the shot came just after time expired. A millisecond too late.

The Raptors escaped with a 102-99 win and completed what still stands as the biggest playoff comeback in franchise history.

1. Kawhi Leonard takes over vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Game 6, 2019 Eastern Conference Finals)

This one sits at the top because of what was at stake. 

Toronto entered Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead after recovering from an 0-2 deficit against the Bucks. A trip to the NBA Finals was on the line and let’s just say Milwaukee wasn’t making it easy.

The Bucks led by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter and looked ready to send the series back to Wisconsin for a Game 7. The only issue for Milwaukee was that Kawhi leonard had other plans.

Leonard put the Raptors on his back and helped spark a massive 26-3 run. The run started with a tough and-one over the outstretched arm of Brook Lopez and ended midway through the fourth quarter when Leonard drove down the lane and threw down a monster dunk over Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

By the final buzzer, Leonard had 27 points and 17 rebounds (I guess board man does in fact get paid) as the Raptors secured a 100-94 win and punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. A few weeks later, they were NBA champions.

Final thoughts

The Raptors have produced a lot of memorable playoff moments over the years, but these three comebacks stand out for different reasons.

Whether it was Anunoby’s miracle shot in the Bubble, the franchise-record rally against Indiana, or Leonard’s takeover against Milwaukee, each comeback felt like a defining moment for that particular Raptors team.

Hopefully there are still a few more playoff comebacks waiting to be added to the list in the years ahead, especially with Toronto looking to take the next step in the right direction.

The post A look back at the 3 greatest Raptors playoff comebacks first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Let’s start off with his 3-and-D style of play. Throughout the entirety of game four, OG shot 7-for-9 from three, going 5-5 in the second half alone. If you want to get even more specific, Anunoby went 2-2 in the fourth quarter. Even going outside of the three-ball, his knockdown shooting paired perfectly with Jalen Brunson, who could kick out to him when needed while attempting to drive to the basket. Interesting note: both Brunson and Anunoby combined for 36 points in the second half, with Anunoby (19) being the majority of it.

Moving to the other half of the court, his defence is still just as magnificent as it was when he was with the Raptors- putting up 4 rebounds, a steal, and a block. I’ll talk about this more later, but his defence is what saved this game for the Knicks; with 11 seconds remaining, De’Aaron Fox snatched up a loose ball and was looking to take it down for an easy layup. However, Anunoby tracked it down in transition (something Sportsnet notes has been a consistent upside for him all series) and got the block to keep the deficit at 1. The following play?

Well… We know what happened.

Moving on to the now-famous tip, it was something that brought Raps fans back to the time when the team was looking to claim a second straight title. Back in the bubble (remember those days?) during the Raps’ second-round series against the Boston Celtics, Anunoby cut along the baseline to get wide open (seriously), received an absolute Hail Mary inbound pass from Kyle Lowry, and hit the last-second buzzer beater to make the series 2-1. Adding onto that, Anunoby was only 22 when he hit that shot, and is still only 28.

This now-widely publicized “always cool” mentality has been there since the beginning (shoutout to The Athletic’s Eric Koreen) and is something that both Raps and now Knicks fans get to cherish. With Anunoby being 28, and there still being more games left in these finals (unless the Knicks clinch in five), I’m looking forward to Anunoby making plenty of clutch last-second highlights and being able to call back to the moment he did it for the Raptors.

The post OG Anunoby’s clutch Game Four miracle proves what Raptors’ fans already knew first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Toronto Raptors extend and promote Bobby Webster

The Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) announced on June 8th that they have agreed to a multi-year extension with general manager Bobby Webster. As part of the new deal, Webster has also been promoted to Executive Vice President.

The organization also handed out extensions to several key members of the front office, including vice-president of player personnel and assistant general manager Dan Tolzman, vice-president of basketball strategy and research Keith Boyarsky, and vice-president of operations Tyla Flexman.

The 2026-27 season will mark Webster’s 10th year as the Raptors’ general manager, continuing a long run that has included the franchise’s 2019 NBA championship and multiple playoff appearances.

Darko Rajakovic extension on the horizon?

After the Webster extension, attention has quickly turned to head coach Darko Rajakovic. According to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, “The next obvious move is an extension for Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who is also entering the final year of his existing contract.”

Rajakovic just completed his third season with the Raptors and helped guide the team back into the playoffs. Toronto finished with 46 wins, a 16-win improvement from the previous season, earned the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and made its first postseason appearance in four years.

The Serbian coach was also selected to coach Team World during All-Star Weekend, became the first European head coach to coach in an NBA playoff game, and received a third-place vote for Coach of the Year. A contract extension would be well deserved.

Raptors linked to upcoming free-agent big man, Mitchell Robinson

The Raptors are already being connected to potential offseason targets, with New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson reportedly drawing interest from Toronto.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Raptors are among several teams expected to explore center upgrades this summer.

“Teams regularly relayed to me when I’ve asked around about Robinson’s status have pointed to the Bulls, Hornets, Lakers, and Raptors,” Fischer reported. “Those are all clubs known to be looking for center upgrades.”

Robinson is currently playing in the NBA Finals for the New York Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs. Through four games, the Knicks hold a 3-1 series lead, while Robinson is averaging 5.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game.

The post Raptors Weekly Wrap-Up: Bobby Webster extended, more first appeared on Raptors Republic.

She didn’t start playing properly until the age of 14, when her track and field coach recommended her to a program in the capital, Vilnius. And even when Juškaitė swiftly ascended from beginner to “one of the main players,” her arduous path through what seems like every professional league in Europe was marred by injury and upheaval.  

It wasn’t until a couple years ago that she even considered the WNBA to be a realistic possibility. 

“Honestly, it was never on my radar because it looked too far and too big of a thing,” Juškaitė says in the hallways of Coca-Cola Coliseum after practice. “And I was like; I’m just a kid from a little town. Like, there is no way I will make it to the States, to the league.” 

After playing her first six or seven years in Lithuania at a level she described as “not great,” her skill had reached the point where a move abroad was needed in search of stronger competition.  

That took her to AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski in Poland, Juškaitė’s first EuroCup team, and her first experience playing in another country. It was hard. The new language and people were so difficult to navigate that there were days when she cried and wanted to go home. But she was under contract; she lived through it.  

Next came Valencia in Spain, where she won her first EuroCup title, but was also relegated to limited minutes off the bench.  

“I was just, like, still (a) young player looking for myself at some point,” Juškaitė says. “And this year (in Spain) was probably the hardest because I wasn’t playing that much. 

“But it shaped me mentally, I would say, to understand that I will not always be the main player, not the starter, and need to find my way to live in teams like that as well.” 

Her basketball gauntlet across the European continent was far from finished. She went to France and experienced another difficult season rife with injury and coaching changes at Saint-Amand Hainaut Basket. Then came Italy and another injury, this time a collarbone fracture that stopped her from playing for over seven months.  

She made a brief few-month stop back home to get her bearings then went to a Turkish club that went bankrupt and didn’t pay its players. Then she began her EuroLeague career with Czechia’s Žabiny Brno. 

It was there, only two years ago, that the prospect of playing in the W moved from unfathomable to a real possibility in her mind.  

“I started to play EuroLeague, and I started to see the players who come from W to play EuroLeague, that I am not that much worse than them,” Juškaitė says. “I am competing with them. Like, sometimes I kick their ass.” 

Last season, she won another EuroCup championship on a much more reliable Turkish team, Çukurova Basketbol Mersin.  

Still, it’s head-spinning simply trying to keep track of the myriad stops she’s made in her basketball career. Now imagine living it.  

Back in Spain, Juškaitė learned the importance of humility, but now she’s back in a primary role, having started nine of the first 12 games in Tempo franchise history. Her outside shooting and aggressive driving have netted her four double-digit scoring games, including a new WNBA high of 19 points on only seven shots in Toronto’s most recent win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. She’s averaging 9 points and shooting 41.9 percent from three while serving as an important play-finisher and active defender.  

Bearing in mind how she’s constantly had to adapt throughout her career — to new countries, languages, roles, systems, climates and surely so much more — it makes sense that Juškaitė seems unfazed by her latest transition.  

“I think it just toughened me up,” she says. “I was fortunate enough to always have my support system, like my personal trainer, who, like, a few days after my collarbone surgery, he said, ‘no, you are not staying at home. We go to gym. Maybe you can’t move your arms, but you can move your legs, so we will do something.’ So, I always had people beside me who helped me. 

“And, yeah, I was always the shy kid in my young age and being in all the different situations and stepping out of the comfort zone in different countries with different people. Just, now I feel like I’m grown up. Like, I’m more brave. 

“I have things to say. I have all experiences in my life that if something happens to the player, I know exactly how they feel. So, it helps a lot to be, like, good teammate and good person in general.” 

On the court, she’s had to adjust to moving from the three to the four; a change head coach Sandy Brondello thinks is best for her and the team. The style of basketball is different from how she played in Europe, too. It’s more driven by individual talent and less team focused. In European basketball, self-creation is less prevalent, necessitating that shots be found via a concert of passing and player movement.  

Her teammate Julie Allemand, a Belgian native and longtime European player, also expressed the same sentiments about the differences between North American and European basketball. She also praised Juškaitė’s ability to adapt.  

“It’s not easy; we also have to think about that — how tough it is,” Allemand says at practice. “But I think she’s been doing well. The thing is that she stayed aggressive. As a three or as a four, she was aggressive. She was trying to go take rebounds, she was still pushing the ball. Going to the paint. That’s the most important. We want her to try to stay herself.” 

“She gives great energy … we just want her to be who she is, play instinctively,” head coach Sandy Brondello echoed.  

That energy is abundantly obvious on defence, where her arms are a blur, and despite being undersized for a frontcourt player, she can overwhelm opposing players with her physicality. We saw her emphatically block Nell Angloma on Wednesday and front the post for one of her four steals. 

The mindset fuelling her aggressive and unwavering play stems from the same bravery she learned through her years bouncing from country to country, league to league.  

“When I play, I never look to the scoreboard. I just try to play hard and compete every minute, every second,” Juškaitė says. 

“It’s just in me. Like, maybe I was always quiet outside of the basketball court, so I wanted to prove a lot of things on the court.” 

It’s evident in every facet of how she plays the game. From her frenzied defence to her hard-charging drives. When she turns the corner on keeper play with a full head of steam, it’s clear she’s giving her all. And that’s because she did to get here. 

“I feel like I didn’t skip any steps in my career,” Juškaitė says.  

“I’ve been in, like, lower leagues, better leagues, and lately in EuroLeague. So, I’m 28 years old. I really played basketball professionally for a long time. And as I said, I didn’t skip any level because sometimes players jump from here to the biggest levels, and they are missing something. And I feel I checked all the boxes, like, to be finally here.” 

The post Laura Juskaite’s improbable path to the Toronto Tempo’s starting five first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Bobby Webster, who has served as the Raptors’ general manager since 2017 and has been part of the organization’s front office since 2013. Over the course of his tenure with the Raps he has been promoted to Executive Vice-President and General Manager. Now, most recently, Webster signed a five-year contract extension that will begin in the 2026-27 season.

With Webster’s future locked in, the next move could be keeping another key figure in Toronto long term. According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, “The next obvious move is an extension for Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who is also entering the final year of his existing contract.”

Grange added that “the timing on that move has yet to be determined, but multiple sources have confirmed it’s in the works.” If indeed an extension does actually get done, it would be hard to argue against it.

The Raptors have improved in each of Rajakovic’s three seasons as head coach. In his first year behind the bench, Toronto finished 25-57 and missed the playoffs. The following season, the team improved to 30-52, but still fell short of postseason contention.

This past year, however, the Raptors took a major step forward, finishing 46-36, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and making their first playoff appearance in four years.

The slow start to Rajakovic’s tenure was understandable. When he arrived in Toronto, it was his first full-time NBA head coaching job after spending years as an assistant and briefly serving as interim head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

He also joined a team in the midst a major pivot. The Raptors were moving on from the core of their 2019 championship team and eventually dealt both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby as the organization shifted toward a rebuild.

Going into 2025, Toronto didn’t even have its own first-round pick and expectations were low. The season was focused more on player development than wins and losses. Well, that all changed this past season.

The Raptors entered the year with a clearer direction, a stronger roster, and much higher expectations. Rajakovic did a strong job establishing an identity for the team and getting players to buy in. Of course, having a healthy Brandon Ingram certainly helped, but Toronto’s improvement went beyond personnel. The team looked more organized and much more competitive than it had in previous years.

Rajakovic’s work did not go unnoticed as he earned recognition around the league. He was selected to coach Team World during All-Star Weekend, became the first European head coach to coach in a postseason game, and even received a third-place vote for Coach of the Year.

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The results speak for themselves. The Raptors have gotten better every season under Rajakovic, and the team is heading in the right direction. He’s shown he can develop young players, navigate difficult circumstances, and help build a winning culture. An extension feels like the natural next step.

The post Raptors could soon reward Darko Rajakovic with new contract extension first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Today’s prospect is Bennett Stirtz, the senior point guard from Iowa. The Raptors have a dire need for true point guard play; Bennett is going to be on their radar (and in fact has already worked out for them) thanks to his ability to slow the pace and expertly orchestrate offensive schemes. His ridiculously quick jumper will only make him more desirable for teams in need of some offensive juice.

Bennett Stirtz

Height: 6’2.5 | Wingspan: 6’6 | Weight: 186 lbs | Age on Draft Day: 22
College: Iowa | NBA Position: PG | Role: Floor General

The Good (Shooting, Playmaking, Basketball IQ)

Bennett has an impressive trophy cabinet to his name:

Starting out in Division 2 basketball, Bennett worked his way up to Division 1 where he became one of the most impactful players in the college basketball sphere. Now he’s a first round pick. I know Raptors fans can appreciate that kind of underdog story.

Bennett is a workhorse. A consistent minutes-leader at both Drake and Iowa, there shouldn’t be any worry about his ability to stay healthy and contribute often.

Time simply slows down when Bennett has the ball in his hands… literally, he controls the pace unlike any other guard in the class. When the game slows down for him, he tends to create advantages for both himself and his teammates. His handle is maddeningly hard to stop.

Great playmaker. Nothing that jumps off the page, but Bennett makes all the right reads and delivers timely passes. He reads defences extremely well and sends skilled passes out of pick-and-roll sets or on live dribble-drives. Bennett is arguably the best pick-and-roll operator in the entire class. He’ll throw out some flashy passes like it’s instinctual, but he rarely takes risks with the ball and he just doesn’t turn it over.

I really don’t have anything other than praise for Bennett’s offensive game. He’s efficient and consistent.

The efficiency on the deep jumper was only ~36%, but Bennett’s jump shot is very quick and repeatable. He was one of the most effective shooters off the dribble on one of the highest volumes in college basketball, so there’s no concerns about his ability to create his own shot from deep. He stands to be one of the better shooting guards in the class and his overall offensive efficiency is very impressive. I don’t expect him to be a liability on the offensive end one bit. At the combine, Bennett was one of the standouts at the shooting drills:

• Spot-up shooting: 20/25 (1st/26)
• Off-the-dribble shooting: 23/30 (T-3rd/26)
• 3-point star drill: 16/25 (T-6th/25)
• Free Throws: 9/10 (T-5th/26)
• Side-mid-side: 21/27 (2nd/26)

As seen above, Bennett’s efficiency at the rim, from inside the arc, and from beyond the arc are all elite. He can get to his shot with ease and has the offensive skills to make opposing defenders pay with his jumper or with his feathery soft touch at the rim. His step-back is silky smooth.

The Bad (Age, Athleticism)

Perhaps “athleticism” is an unfair label here; Bennett possesses a quick first-step, especially in screen-and-roll coverage, and plays with a shiftiness to his game that can throw off some of the better defenders in college basketball and he can dunk if afforded some runway… However, Bennett is likely going to be targeted on the defensive end just due to his lack of strength and size.

It’s not for lack of effort. Bennett knows where to be on the defensive end and he’s rarely caught out of position, but he will undoubtedly get bullied by the stronger and faster guards in the NBA. At 6’4 in shoes, he’s not exactly short for his position, but strength gain will be key in keeping him on the floor.

It’s important to note that, for a guard, Bennett’s advanced defensive stats actually aren’t that bad; but he’s still only just an average defender in college and he’ll need to adjust to the physicality of the NBA.

Addressing the elephant in the room, he’s definitely on the older side for prospects which can limit his perceived upside (Bennett is almost two months older than Gradey Dick, who is entering his 4th year as a pro). I’ve never been one to really dock points for a player based on their age, if they’re a good basketball player then that’s typically what matters most for me, but it’s something to keep in mind if the Raptors want to go for a prospect with a bit more developmental headroom.

Stirtz really controls the pace, and sometimes that can be to his detriment. He plays his best ball when he brings the momentum to a crawl and he can really dictate how the offence flows. If he’s pressured or hurried, he tends to make mistakes or settles into a shot rather than the right pass.

The Fit

Bennett’s age might be a preference for the Raptors who want a mature point guard to join the team and contribute right away, rather than waiting a few years for development.

In terms of play style, he fits like a glove. The team has lacked a true point guard since Fred VanVleet’s departure (some would argue since Kyle Lowry’s departure), and this would allow the Raptors to add a mature leader and floor general to their growing roster. He can alleviate pressure offensively by taking a big chunk of ball handling and playmaking duties and spacing the floor for Scottie Barnes, and his elite usage of the pick-and-roll would open up several new dimensions of Darko Rajakovic’s offence.

The defence is a little iffy, but I don’t think it’s worth passing on all the positives Bennett provides at this point in the draft. He’s shown that his game translates at every level and he’s risen to the challenge at every opportunity to show that he’s both a leader and a winner.

Conclusion

Consensus NBA Draft Range: 15-25

Brendan’s Ranking: 16th

Floor Projection: Mid-bench all-around point guard, facilitates and shoots efficiently but limited upside and lack of strength prevent further growth.

Median Projection: Perennial sixth-man of the year candidate, one of the better playmakers and shooters in the league capable of taking the starting reigns when needed. Talks of “upside” are thrown out the window when you’re already this good.

Ceiling Projection: Fringe all-star; one of the league’s premier shooters, a steadying presence who can lead a team on any given night, consistent double-double threat.

The post 2026 NBA Draft: Bennett Stirtz is the quintessential underdog point guard first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Brittney Sykes Leads GRITTY Comeback For Tempo’s FIRST Overtime Win | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

“Three is better than two” has been a common refrain from both her and Toronto Tempo players in the early going of the team’s inaugural season.

“We forced too many mid-rangers, which is not a good shot in the game,” Brondello said after the Tempo’s first game.

But in their last game against the Chicago Sky, they successfully improvised, hitting Nyara Sabally on the roll and driving closeouts as they were run off the line. Given that their opponent on Wednesday, the Connecticut Sun, came into the game top five in limiting opponents’ three-point attempts, they were in for another round of hard closeouts.

“Chicago did the same thing, didn’t they? We had 18 three-point attempts, and that’s the lowest for the season,” Brondello said pregame. “We only made four, and Izzy made two, which is quite remarkable in that regard. But in the end, take what the defence gives us. You know, it’s good to great, you know, paint to great. If we’re getting high-quality shots, you know I’m happy with that.

“We are a really good three-point shooting team and hopefully a little bit more quicker ball movement will get us more open looks.”

The Tempo played inside-out on Wednesday, struggling to get up 3s against a swarming Sun defence. But 38 points from the unyielding driving of Brittney “Slim” Sykes overcame Connecticut’s determined closeouts and domination in the key, allowing Marina Mabrey to redeem a poor shooting night with a triumphant overtime performance.

It tied Slim’s career-high previously set against the Los Angeles Sparks in Game 4 of the season, was the Tempo’s first-ever overtime, their first overtime win, and also their largest comeback to date.

In the first quarter, faster ball movement didn’t materialize — Toronto took only five 3s, making two — but they were once again effective at countering. Laura Juškaitė’s aggression and timely cutting netted her six, Allemand played both fast and slow, organizing the offence and also running out for a trio of transition makes, and Slim led the way, relentlessly driving the gaps for a team-high 11 (she also lifted off staggered pin down screens and banged a 3).

But Aaliyah Edwards dominated down low, overwhelming the Tempo’s bigs with both fancy footwork and sheer strength. The Kingston, Ont.-born forward led Connecticut with 10 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting near the start of the second quarter and her team led 37-36.

Edwards kept bulldozing her way downhill, and the Tempo had little recourse aside from sending her to the line. Meanwhile, their offence stagnated as few players aside from Slim were able to finish at the hoop. Juškaitė provided a spark after she checked back in, taking a high pitch from Allemand all the way to the basket. But they got up only 11 triples by half and didn’t make another after Mabrey and Slim’s in the first.

Leila Lacan canned her deep balls though, going 3-of-6, including a 28-foot bomb. A pair of free throws from the starting guard had the Tempo stuck 11 at the half.

Then Lacan stuck another triple to start the third. With the Sun’s lead rising, it was Juškaitė once again who galvanized the Tempo and kept them afloat. Her exuberant energy translated into back-to-back steals, both resulting in points. She was one of the few Tempo players who made the right read when the game sped up — she pushed the ball in transition and found Sabally with an open lane.

Eventually, Marina Mabrey let it rip on a 35-foot pull-up that caught all net, forced a Connecticut timeout and cut the deficit to five. And now we have a ballgame.

That seemed to open the floodgates as Mabrey canned another and Slim knocked down a catch-and-shoot triple, ending an 0-for-7 run from distance. Strong ball movement and advantage-extending drives created another open look for Julie Allemand, but it caught rim.

The real Slim stood up in the clutch, first hitting an acrobatic spinning fade in the dying seconds of the third. Then she flared off a screen and stuck another middy, before nailing a roof-raising 3 that made it a two-point game as Cola-Cola Coliseum erupted.

And while Slim starred, it was Juškaitė’s reliable finishing and strong decision-making that lifted the Tempo at critical moments and underpinned their fight. She followed another resilient drive and finish by draining an open, in rhythm, triple. Her first of the night. Juškaite had passed up other 3s previously in pursuit of better looks, but this one was just right.

The finish of the fourth was a ton of fouls, a ton of coaches’ challenges, a ton of free throws, and it all culminated in a 96-all tie at the buzzer. Coca-Cola got dead quiet as Slim drained the last two from the line, the crowd quickly oscillating from roars to silence. Free hoops.

“I mean, honestly, I hope the fans hear this, never that quiet,” Slim said after the game.

The Tempo’s first overtime basket was a Marina Mabrey corner 3 on a grenade DHO. A play that failed them before. Edwards responded with a wing triple of her own and wore her heart on her sleeve with an emphatic celebration after.

The extra frame was Mabrey’s redemption. She scored only 15 points on 18 shots in regulation. But with the game on the line, she got another tough, measured drive to go and then grabbed a decisive steal. Another Slim layup and pair of free throws sealed it. What a win for the Tempo.

Connecticut Sun

102 – 106

Toronto Tempo

B+	Nyara Sabally 30 MIN, 15 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 3-5 FG, 0-1 3FG, 9-10 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 6 +/- Nyara's been so steady for the Tempo despite adjusting to a new role and she was quietly brilliant again in this game. Despite being overmatched at times in the paint and leaving much to be desired on the glass, her decision-making and craft were sublime.
A+	Laura Juskaite 37 MIN, 19 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 4 STL, 5-7 FG, 1-1 3FG, 8-8 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 16 +/- Note perfect game from Juškaitė. Big hustle putbacks, great cutting, aggressive and effective drives, fronted the post for a steal, made the right reads, perfect from the line. Couldn't ask for more.
A+	Brittney Sykes 41 MIN, 38 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 11-20 FG, 3-6 3FG, 13-13 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 +/- Ties a career-high and makes the free throws to both send it to OT and seal the win (in eerie silence). Her herky jerky driving and unflagging will is truly breathed life into the Tempo in this game.
B	Marina Mabrey 34 MIN, 21 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 8-20 FG, 4-12 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 4 +/- Really rough shooting night, missing plenty of triples and mid-range looks. But she made up for it by making crucial baskets in overtime. Money Mabrey Plus her off-ball defence was strong as she timed her help well and effectively face-guarded Diamond Miller at times.
C+	Julie Allemand 36 MIN, 6 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 3-5 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 14 +/- Tough game for Allemand. She had a couple brain-fart turnovers and look more hesitant than usual as she killed advantages. Did do well organizing the offence though, as usual, calling for a couple sets in the first. She also played fast, scoring all six of her points by pushing in transition in the first quarter.
C	Isabelle Harrison 13 MIN, 5 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1-5 FG, 0-1 3FG, 3-8 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/- After an exceptional debut, Harrison was overmatched by Edwards and the Sun frontcourt in this game. It's reasonable to give her time to acclimate and get up to speed after the missed time. Did have a hard take along the baseline that drew free throws.
C-	Maria Conde 15 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, -10 +/- Did well as a secondary ball handler, but there weren't many other bright spots. Also struggled with Connecticut's physicality and made defensive miscues. Her transition back to the wing has ebbed and flowed.
C	Teonni Key 9 MIN, 0 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- Stonewalled a drive in the lane and forced a turnover but struggled to finish over the Sun's bigs. Her intention is usually good but the execution has been lacking.
B	Kia Nurse 3 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -1 +/- Missed her lone triple by a lot. Not much else to go off but Nurse's veteran presence as a connector and communicator is important.
A	Tima Pouye 8 MIN, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -1 +/- Played for a stretch in the fourth for her first significant minutes with the Tempo, and looked solid. She took care of the ball and had good instincts. Made the simple play and kept the ball moving, finding Slim's hot hands for a pair of assists.
A	Sandy Brondello Most of the plays the Tempo ran didn't amount to much in this game, which wasn't because they're poorly drawn up sets, but rather just a mix of the Sun sitting on actions, playing good defence and the Tempo not executing. This stuff is mostly up to the players and Brondello is an unquestionably capable coach. Instead, their points came via random offence, where Brondello's principles of playing fast and making quick reads came through in the biggest moments.

Things we saw

1. A boatload of free throws, 80 total as the Tempo went 36-of-43 and the Sun went 25-of-37. Slim and Juškaitė both were perfect — 13-of-13 and 8-of-8, respectively.
2. The Tempo overcame a minus-17 deficit on the glass.
3. How did they win while getting buried on the boards? Toronto had 12 steals to Connecticut's three. That and the free-throw disparity were enough.

The post Quick Reaction: Sun 102, Tempo 106 first appeared on Raptors Republic.