The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Is Ja’Kobe Walter ready to be a proper sharpshooter?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Is Ja’Kobe Walter ready to be a proper sharpshooter? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The Toronto Raptors have 82 games on their schedule, but obviously, not all 82 are created equal. Some carry more history, some feature the league’s biggest stars, and some could give us an early idea of what this Raptors team is actually capable of.

So, here are the ten games I’m circling heading into the new season.

10. Kawhi Leonard vs. the Clippers

Raptors at Clippers — Nov. 2, 2026 | Clippers at Raptors — Jan. 1, 2027

Of course, there’s a pretty big question mark hanging over this one, and the only reason this isn’t ranked higher.

With the Kawhi Leonard trade still on pause, we don’t actually know who will be wearing a Raptors jersey when these games roll around.

But if the deal goes through, this matchup jumps right onto the list. Toronto travels to Los Angeles on Nov. 2 to face the Clippers, before they match up again to ring in the new year on Jan. 1, and the storyline basically writes itself.

Kawhi left Toronto for Los Angeles in 2019, just months after helping the Raptors win the first championship in franchise history.

Now, seven years later, he’s potentially heading back the other way — returning to the team he helped bring a championship to.

9. Stephen Curry and the Warriors

Warriors at Raptors — Dec. 18, 2026

Any time Curry comes to Toronto, it’s a must-watch. There’s always a chance he’ll do something ridiculous from three and turn the game into his own personal highlight reel.

Also, if the Kawhi Leonard deal goes through, this one gets an extra layer of history. It would be a little 2019 Finals reunion (kinda), with Kawhi and a bunch of new Raptors teammates facing some of the Warriors team they beat to win the first championship in franchise history.

This one even gets a little more extra weight involved because of the recent Curry rumours. There have been questions about whether the Warriors superstar could eventually be on the move, and yes, Raptors fans can dream. Curry in Toronto would be absolutely nuts.

Realistically, though, he’s still a Warrior for now, and whether Kawhi is on the floor, Curry is on the floor, or both, any night featuring Steph is still worth circling on the calendar regardless.

8. Masai Ujiri returns to Toronto

Mavericks at Raptors — Jan. 27, 2027

This one is all about the guy hopefully sitting on the sidelines…and no, I am not talking about Nav Bhatia (no disrespect to the GOAT, of course).

I am talking about Masai. Ujiri will return to Toronto with the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 27, giving Raptors fans their first chance to see the former team president since his departure.

It’s hard to overstate what Ujiri meant to the Raptors. He helped pull the franchise out of years of uncertainty, guided Toronto to the Eastern Conference final in 2016 and, of course, was at the centre of the organization’s championship run in 2019.

Ujiri’s name still carries plenty of weight in Toronto. Hopefully, he’s travelling with Dallas that night, because Raptors fans should have one more chance to give him the standing ovation he deserves.

7. SGA comes home

Thunder at Raptors — March 10, 2027

It’s always a little different when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes to Toronto. The Hamilton native has gone from Canadian prospect to NBA superstar. He’s now a two-time MVP and one of the best players in the world.

And of course, there’s still the dream that one day he’ll put on a Raptors jersey. Until then, Raptors fans will have to settle for watching him come into Scotiabank Arena once a year…that is, at least if they don’t play each other in the NBA Finals.

6. The Alien’s UFO lands in Toronto

Spurs at Raptors — Dec. 16, 2026

Victor Wembanyama’s debut in Toronto was an unforgettable performance back in 2024.

During his first visit to the city, Wembanyama looked every bit like the alien he’s been nicknamed, putting up 27 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and 10 blocks while shooting 71.4 percent from the field.

However, last season was a different story. The hype that surrounded him the first time he played in 6ix was quickly diminished. The Raptors held him to 12 points and eight rebounds on 3-of-12 shooting.

So the question is, which Wemby are we getting this time? The Spurs will make just one trip to Toronto this season, and Wembanyama will look to bounce back after an injury-interrupted campaign and a disappointing end to San Antonio’s season, when they fell short to the Knicks in the NBA Finals.

5. The Greek Freak with the Heat

Heat at Raptors — Jan. 15, 2027

Giannis Antetokounmpo finally has a new home. After years of speculation about whether he’d eventually leave Milwaukee, the two-time MVP made the move to Miami this off-season.

Now Raptors fans get their first look at Giannis in a Heat jersey on Jan. 15. And there’s an interesting wrinkle here: Giannis playing under Erik Spoelstra. The combination of one of the league’s greatest players and one of its best coaches could be something special.

After an injury-plagued season, Giannis will be looking to remind everyone why he’s been one of the most dominant players in basketball.

4. The champs come to town — twice

Knicks at Raptors — Nov. 15 and Nov. 17, 2026

The New York Knicks will make two trips to Toronto in three days, playing the Raptors on Nov. 15 and Nov. 17. The Knicks are coming off their first championship in more than 50 years, while Toronto has had a pretty miserable time against New York lately.

The Raptors have lost their last 13 games against the Knicks, with their most recent victory coming way back on Jan. 22, 2023. So, yeah, it’s probably time to do something about that.

These games could also give us an early indication of how far Toronto has come. If the Raptors are serious about being a playoff team, going toe-to-toe with the defending champs would be a pretty good measuring stick.

3. Opening night

Bulls at Raptors — Oct. 21, 2026

It’s opening night. What more needs to be said? The Raptors will begin the season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21, and even if we don’t know exactly what either team will look like yet, there’s something different about that first game.

Everyone is 0-0. Everyone has hope. Every new addition is exciting. Every young player could be ready to break out. Every question from the previous season gets a fresh start.

It may not be the most star-studded matchup on the schedule, but it’s the night that tells us one thing: NBA basketball is back. And that in itself should be enough to get it on the list.

2. Playoff revenge

Raptors at Cavaliers — Jan. 5, 2027

Nobody likes losing in the playoffs, especially in seven games. The Raptors will get their first shot at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 5, months after Cleveland eliminated Toronto in a seven-game first-round series.

Now the Raptors get a chance to see where they stand against the team that ended their season.

The best part is they’ll match up again just a few weeks later. Toronto hosts Cleveland on Jan. 29 during AWS NBA Rivals Week. So Raptors fans get two cracks at the Cavaliers in January. The first one is in Cleveland. That should make it even more interesting.

1. LeBron James in a 76ers jersey

76ers at Raptors — Nov. 12, 2026

This one feels a bit weird. LeBron James playing in Philadelphia is something Raptors fans are going to have to get used to. James will make his first trip to Toronto as a 76er on Jan. 10, but the first meeting comes in Philadelphia on Nov. 12.

It will be his first game against the Raptors as an Eastern Conference player since his days with Cleveland, and Raptors fans know the history…LeBronto….need I say more?

LBJ has tormented Toronto for years, including a four-game sweep in the 2018 playoffs that became one of the franchise’s lowest points in recent history. Now he’s back in the East — and the worst part is he is not coming alone.

Philadelphia has a loaded roster featuring James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid. On paper, it’s one of the league’s most dangerous teams.

For Toronto, this is more than just another game against LeBron. It could be an early test of whether this new-look Raptors team can actually hang with the best teams in the conference. And if they can? Well, buckle up, folks, because this season could be really interesting.

The post 10 Raptors games to circle on the 2026-27 NBA schedule first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The 20-year-old has signed with BC Balkan Botevgrad, as announced by the team. A big get for the reigning National Basketball League champions ahead of their BKT EuroCup debut.

Chomche was previously a member of the Toronto Raptors organization for one season, after the franchise traded for the 57th overall pick in 2024 from the Memphis Grizzlies and used it to select the 6-foot-11 Cameroonian. He was the youngest player in his draft class and the first player selected to the NBA out of the Basketball Africa League and NBA Academy Africa.

He’d spend the 2024-25 season on a two-way contract with the Raptors, making seven NBA appearances. Chomche spent most of that season with the Raptors 905, averaging 7.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.9 blocks on 54.4/33.3/44.4 shooting splits through 33 G League games.

In Summer League last year, Chomche averaged 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks. He was waived a couple of months later, however, shortly before the regular-season began.

Chomche was held out of training camp due to an undisclosed medical condition, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, and was referred to the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel for assessment on his eligibility to play moving forward.

The young big man had been around the organization to some degree in the time since, frequently seen attending 905 games in Mississauga, Ont. from the team section of the stands, or posting videos of his workouts on social media with a Toronto-area trainer, who’s also worked with fellow Francophone NBAer Chris Boucher.

Chomche’s return to organized basketball seemingly came in July, when he represented Cameroon during FIBA qualifiers and totalled eight points on 4-of-8 shooting, 15 rebounds and five blocks through three games.

The post Former Raptors centre Ulrich Chomche signing in Europe first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Is Jakob Poeltl’s back feeling better?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Is Jakob Poeltl’s back feeling better? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The NBA announced the schedules for all 30 teams on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, here are some of the Raptors’ standout games:

-Season opener at home against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21.

-On the road against the Los Angeles Clippers Nov. 2

-Host back-to-back games against the reigning champion New York Knicks on Nov. 15 and 17.

-Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and the Clippers make their Toronto return on New Year’s Day.*

-First rematch against the Cleveland Cavaliers Jan. 5, 2027.

-Masai Ujiri led Dallas Mavericks in Toronto on Jan. 27.

Pending the completed Kawhi Leonard trade*

And here is a link to the full schedule.

The Raptors’ NBA Cup schedule was also released on Wednesday. Their group features the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. It opens on Oct. 30 against the Magic, and their toughest test will likely come on the road against the Pistons Nov. 20.

The Raptors will not have a Christmas Day game, a tradition that extends back to 2019, the season after they won the championship. In fact, Toronto has only had two Christmas Day games in franchise history, with the other coming in 2001.

First comes the Raptors’ Quebec City training camp and five-game preseason slate, including games against the Los Angeles Clippers in Vancouver and against the New York Knicks in Toronto. It all tips off against the Miami Heat on Oct. 3.

To stay abreast of the latest news on the Kawhi Leonard saga, look no further than the latest Pull Up Tre episode, where Samson Folk and Trevon Heath have you covered with their analysis of the reporting around the investigation, other relevant topics in Raptors realm, and of course, some laughs.

The post Raptors release schedule for 2026-27 season first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Because at 10-23 following a 94-88 loss to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, the Toronto Tempo are well out of the playoff mix, to the point that checking the — reverse — standings these days has become more about identifying lottery odds.

And for those wondering, the 13th-seeded Tempo are in firm control of the third-best odds (16 per cent) at this point and making a great case to eventually catch the Chicago Sky and claim a 24 per cent shot at the No. 1 pick.

But what about the 11 regular-season games remaining between now and when the ping-pong balls drop? What’s there to focus on aside from the “sim lottery” button on Tankathon?

Well, with only three of 14 rostered players signed beyond 2027, one way to view these next couple of games is figuring out who ought to stick with this roster long term.

Say, Kiki Rice, for example. The rookie was just taken sixth overall by the Tempo with their first-ever draft pick a couple of months ago, so her future with the franchise wasn’t exactly in doubt, but she’s continued to demonstrate why she was so highly touted coming off a national title run with UCLA.

The 22-year-old made her first start since returning from injury against the Wings on Wednesday and began making an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. For starters, acting as the primary defender on Paige Bueckers, Rice helped hold the Wings superstar to an 0-of-7 from the field before the break — the first time in the former No. 1 overall pick’s career she’d gone scoreless in an opening half.

“That’s why we think so highly of Kiki,” Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello said of the rookie guard post-game. ” … Defensively, I thought she did a great job on Paige. She has that physical strength, she can get over screens, she has high IQ and all those things matter. We think the world of Kiki and we’re going to keep developing her.

And although Rice didn’t guard Bueckers for all seven of those misses, she did well on the shots she did contest. Like forcing an airball on a mid-range fadeaway right before the halftime buzzer to contain the Tempo’s deficit to 45-37 at the break.

She also chipped in 13 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes of action before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter due to a leg injury, joining Nyara Sabally, who was ruled out earlier with a calf issue.

Rice took an awkward fall after stepping on Odyssey Sims’ foot when driving through the lane and immediately went down in pain before she was helped off the court. Luckily for the Tempo, Rice did eventually come back and finish the game on the bench and Brondello said after the game that the youngster was “okay.”

The Tempo bench boss also added that Rice “wanted to go back in” but the team ultimately decided against it.

And just like Rice showed no quit, so did her teammates as they attempted a valiant but ultimately failed rally down the stretch. Coming back from trailing by as many as 18 points to make it a 90-86 game at the 1:18 mark after Laura Juskaite dug in on an Arike Ogunbowale drive to force a turnover and then ran ahead to finish the transition opportunity with a layup.

The Lithuanian rookie had a solid outing of her own on Wednesday, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Two of those takeaways came in the final frame, including another strip-and-score layup that highlighted just how the Tempo were able to get back into the game.

Not just shooting 65 per cent from the floor in the fourth — which was largely thanks to a Marina Mabrey heater, hitting three triples for 14 of her game-high 23 points coming in the final 10 minutes — but also holding the Wings to 39 per cent from the field, and forcing three turnovers for four points.

It was one of the Tempo’s better defensive quarters in quite some time, but unfortunately they couldn’t chain together those crucial final stops required. First fouling Ogunbowale on a drive, after which she knocked down both free throws. And then Bueckers, the same one who was scoreless at halftime, calmly dribbled into a mid-range pull-up from the free throw line and hit the dagger a couple of possessions later. The Dallas guard wound up finishing with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, proving why she’s considered one of the elite scorers in the WNBA and why it’s difficult to keep her quiet for a full game.

The Tempo wound up allowing 90-plus points for a ninth consecutive game — well above the league average of 87.6 points per game across all teams.

And snapping that streak will only be harder when Toronto returns to action on Tuesday, hosting the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark and their No. 1-ranked offence at Scotiabank Arena.

The post Tempo continue climbing reverse standings with skid-extending loss to Wings first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Fast forward 12 months and some guys have landed with other NBA teams. Some have headed overseas. A few are still waiting for the next call.

Here’s a look at what happened to the players who were part of Toronto’s training camp last season that are no longer on the team.

Ochai Agbaji

Agbaji spent part of last season in Toronto before being sent to the Brooklyn Nets. He played 62 games between the Raptors and Nets, averaging 5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists while shooting 43.6 per cent from the field.

Toronto eventually included him in the three-team trade that brought Chris Paul to the Raptors….Well, sort of. Paul never actually suited up for Toronto, but the move still gave the Raptors some financial flexibility.

Agbaji is now an unrestricted free agent and looking for his next team.

Gradey Dick

This one comes with an asterisk. Dick was included in the proposed deal that would bring Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto. That trade is currently on pause while the NBA investigates the Clippers’ handling of Leonard’s contract.

So, technically, Dick’s Toronto story isn’t completely finished. However, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently reported that Leonard continues to believe he’ll be a Raptor for training camp.

As for Dick’s season, it wasn’t quite what Toronto hoped for. His playing time dropped from 29.4 minutes per game to 14.0, and he averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists. It’s possible there’s still a movement shooter somewhere in there, but he simply hasn’t shown it as a Raptor. We’ll see what happens next.

Ulrich Chomche

The Raptors acquired Chomche after he was selected 57th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, making him the first player drafted from the Basketball Africa League and NBA Academy Africa.

Before health issues stopped his 2025-26 season before it began, he appeared in only seven games the year previous, averaging 0.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.6 minutes. He’s still looking for his next opportunity and is currently an unrestricted free agent.

Brandon Ingram

Ingram was one of the big reasons Raptors fans were excited heading into last season. He was supposed to give Toronto another proven scorer and help push the young team forward. And he did.

Ingram played 77 games, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. It was his busiest season since his early days with the Lakers and earned him his second career All-Star selection.

The playoffs didn’t go the way he would’ve wanted. Toronto got eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, and Ingram was dealing with an injury.

Now he’s in the same boat as Dick. Ingram was also included in the proposed Leonard deal, leaving his future in Toronto up in the air.

AJ Lawson

Lawson took his game to Spain. The Toronto native signed with Saski Baskonia of Spain’s Liga ACB after spending the past two seasons with the Raptors. He appeared in 50 games for Toronto, averaging 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds.

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Mamu didn’t take long to win over Toronto. He showed up at training camp with plenty of energy and quickly became a fan favourite last season. Then he backed it up on the court.

Mamukelashvili averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 38.9 per cent from three. He finished 10th in Sixth Man of the Year voting and turned that breakout season into a much bigger payday with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not bad at all for the 54th pick in the 2021 draft.

Jonathan Mogbo

Toronto selected Mogbo 31st overall in 2024, but last season he averaged just 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.2 minutes over 40 games.

The Raptors declined his team option and he moved on to the Sacramento Kings. He did show some life in Summer League, averaging 11.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks over four games.

Jared Rhoden

Rhoden made it through Raptors training camp last year but didn’t make the team. He had played 10 games for Toronto the previous season, averaging 11.4 points, before heading overseas. He signed with Paris Basketball and is now playing in the EuroLeague.

David Roddy

Roddy never actually got NBA minutes with the Raptors. He did, however, make an impression with the Raptors 905.

In 34 games, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 39.2 per cent from three. That was enough to earn him another NBA shot. Roddy signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets this off-season.

Olivier Sarr

Sarr followed a similar path. He spent last season with the 905, where the French big man averaged 11.5 points, a team-best 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 23 starts. His play earned him a call-up from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s now an unrestricted free agent.

Garrett Temple

Temple was never really in Toronto for his production. He was there to be a leader. The veteran spent three seasons with the Raptors and became one of the team’s most important mentors as the young roster developed.

He played just 22 games last season in total for Toronto. Now, he’s taking those mentoring skills to the sidelines full-time. Temple joined the Dallas Mavericks‘ coaching staff under head coach Dusty May.

The post Training Camp Flashback: Which Raptors 2025 are no longer with the team? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk & Trevon Heath detail their understanding of the Kawhi situation.

On Kawhi:

“The Kawhi Leonard-to-Toronto saga just keeps going.

The Toronto Raptors agreed to bring Leonard back in a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, but Toronto pressed pause on July 9 instead of finalizing the trade while the NBA continues its investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Leonard and the Clippers.

Updates regarding Kawhi Leonard have left fans in a rollercoaster of emotions, and now there is yet another update.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line there are reports that Leonard still believes he’ll be a Raptor when training camp gets underway. Leonard’s camp has apparently remained confident that the investigation will eventually be resolved and the trade will be completed.

His agent, Harrison Gaines, has stayed in regular contact with the NBA Players Association as the investigation continues. The NBA hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz last September to look into the allegations, and the process has now stretched close to a year.

Leonard’s belief is that he’ll eventually be cleared to make the move to Toronto.And if the deal does go through, it may not be a one-season reunion.

Fischer also reported that the trade was agreed to with the possibility of Leonard negotiating a multiyear extension with the Raptors. He is entering the final year of his current contract and is set to make $50.3 million next season.

That would give Toronto a chance to bring back the player who delivered the franchise its first NBA championship, this time with the possibility of keeping him around beyond the 2026-27 season.

For now, though, the Raptors are still in the waiting game. The trade is on hold. The investigation is ongoing. And Leonard, at least according to Fischer’s sources, still expects to end up in Toronto.”

Have a blessed day.

The post This is the last time we talk about Kawhi until everything is settled first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Will Kawhi Leonard’s pull-up shooting bring the Raptors into modernity?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Will Kawhi Leonard’s pull-up shooting bring the Raptors into modernity? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Tempo Show FIGHT Late But Skid Continues vs. Wings | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

According to a notice of appeal filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on July 6, the couple argues that they were legally entitled to a rebate of the Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST). According to their appeal, they were denied because the Ministry of Finance told them they failed to meet residency requirements (somehow).

Essentially, this tax was designed to discourage foreign speculation within Ontario’s real estate market. The notice says that Nurse and his wife Roberta “were not the type of real estate speculators the Legislature aimed to address.”

The appeal also notes that the home was the primary residence of the former Raptors head coach from 2021 to 2023.

Interestingly, the notice also mentions that although he was a foreign national with a work permit, he was employed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment for nearly 10 years.

“Mr. Nurse brought significant economic and social value to the province,” the notice of appeal argued.

Nurse first joined the Raptors in 2013 as an assistant coach under then-head coach Dwayne Casey, where he was in charge of the offence. Nurse took over as head coach following Casey’s firing in 2018 and led the team to the 2019 NBA Finals, in which they won the championship in six games (good times). Nurse was fired in 2023 and later joined the Philadelphia 76ers as their head coach.

Now, as noted by CBC, a foreign national can qualify for the NRST rebate by initially paying it, becoming a permanent resident within 4 years of the purchase date, and using the property as their primary residence. The notice of appeal states that the Nurse’s application was rejected because the house was not their primary address at the time of application. The appeal was filed in March 2024, and the Nurse’s sold their home in September 2023.

The post Former Raptors bench boss Nick Nurse says Ontario owes him nearly $700k first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Not the toughest group considering last season, as the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic made the playoffs, but both had disappointing exits early on.

Raptors kick off their first group game against the Orlando Magic on October 30th at home, with tipoff set at 7:30 EST. Their second matchup will be on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks at 8 pm EST on November 6. Their third game is also on the road on November 20 against the Detroit Pistons, which is set for a 7:30 tip-off. Finally, they return home for their last cup game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 27 at 7:30 pm.

Toronto had a solid run last season in the Cup as they made it out of their group with a perfect four wins, no losses against the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards. They eventually lost in the quarterfinals against last year’s Cup and NBA champions, the New York Knicks.

Prior to that, the Raptors had a one-and-three record in both the 2023 and 2024 Cups and with their perfect record last season in the Cup, they are now at an even five hundred going into this season.

The post Raptors NBA Group Cup schedule released first appeared on Raptors Republic.