“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.

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.

While Toronto isn’t expected to have significant cap space available, there are still several affordable options in free agency who could help shore up one of the team’s biggest areas of concern.

Here are three cost-effective big men who could make sense for the Raptors heading into next season.

Mitchell Robinson – New York Knicks

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Mitchell Robinson is currently showcasing his value on the NBA’s biggest stage, playing a crucial role for the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. His high-energy, defense, and rebounding have been vital to the Knicks success.

ARobinson’s offensive limitations, particularly his free-throw shooting, might not make him starting calibre material, he has proven to be an ideal backup big. We have seen him play backup to Karl-Anthony Towns at a high-level and there would be no reason to why he couldn’t do the same behind Jakob Poeltl.

During the regular season, Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in just 19.6 minutes per game. He remains one of the league’s most active offensive rebounders and because of his frame and length he brings a strong defensive presence every time he steps on the floor.

What’s more is that the Raps already seem interested in Robinson. According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Toronto is among several teams interested in the 28-year-old.

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

Jock Landale – Atlanta Hawks

While Jock Landale doesn’t provide the same level of rebounding as Robinson, he offers something the Raptors desperately need, which is floor spacing.

Landale split time between the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks this season, appearing in 68 games. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sidelined him for the entirety of Atlanta’s playoff run.

When healthy, however, Landale was highly productive. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 22.1 minutes per game while posting the best three-point shooting numbers of his career. Landale connected on 38.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc while averaging 2.5 three-point attempts per game.

That shooting ability would be especially valuable for a Raptors team that struggled from deep all season. Toronto finished 26th in three-pointers made and ranked 21st in three-point percentage at 35.4 percent.

Dwight Powell – Dallas Mavericks

Dwight Powell may not be the most glamorous option on the market, but he remains the type of player every team can use.

The Toronto native has built a reputation as a consummate professional and dependable glue guy throughout his NBA career. Whether serving as a starter, rotation piece, or veteran presence off the bench, Powell has consistently embraced whatever role his team has asked him to fill. That in itself is why he could be an intriguing low-risk addition for the Raptors.

Signing Powell would not require a significant financial commitment, allowing Toronto to maintain future cap flexibility while adding a respected veteran to the locker room. A return home could also provide extra motivation for the Canadian big man.

Despite a turbulent season in Dallas that featured constant roster turnover, Powell appeared in 63 games, making 12 starts while averaging 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per contest.

Why these three names?

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The Raptors may not have the resources to pursue a marquee center this summer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t improve the position.

Robinson would bring elite rebounding, Landale would add much-needed floor spacing, and Powell offers reliable veteran depth. Each presents a different solution, but all three could help Toronto strengthen its frontcourt without breaking the bank.

The Raptors clearly have a foundational player in Collin Murray-Boyles, and he needs to play some of his time at center. But he doesn’t have the size to spend all of his minutes there for an entire regular season. And it’s unreasonable to expect Poeltl to play a full season at center anymore after his 2025-26 season. Thus the Raptors need a minutes-eater, another center who can fill the void, but doesn’t demand 30 minutes a night and thus stifle the value of Murray-Boyles.

It’s clear there are plenty of possible solutions on the market. But whichever way the Raptors go, their center depth is a problem that needs solving this offseason.

The post Raptors free agency: three budget-friendly center targets first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Today’s piece is on Hannes Steinbach; the best rebounder in the class. A 6’10 big with three point range, his fit on the Raptors appears too good to be true. Let’s dive in.

Hannes Steinbach

Height: 6’10.25 | Wingspan: 7’2.25 | Weight: 248 lbs | Age on Draft Day: 20
College: Washington | NBA Position: C/PF | Role: Floor Spacing Big

The Good (Floor spacer, elite rebounder)

One of the most immovable forces in college basketball, Hannes is a physical and well-built rebounding machine. He led all of college basketball with 11.8 rebounds per game, with 7.6 defensive and a massive 4.2 offensive boards per game. His 14% offensive rebounding rate and 25% defensive rebounding rate are comparable to Joel Embiid’s rebounding numbers as a college freshman.

There are undoubtedly concerns with Hannes’ defensive role in the NBA, but he’s been relatively consistent at staying with his man on drives and closes out effectively. He plays with a high level of physicality and a strong motor, so you know he’s going to give a shit on every possession and put his body on the line, and that’s really all you can ask for as someone who just projects to be an average-at-best defender.

Hannes can be a smart connective presence at times, though he needs to improve his reads and stop sticking with the ball. His game as a pick-and-roll player and short-roll connector could really benefit from stronger ballhandlers and shooters than the ones he played with in Washington.

He possesses great touch, and his footwork stands out, allowing him to finish efficiently around the rim and stay composed under pressure. He catches cleanly and finishes well through traffic with soft touch around the basket, consistently initiating and absorbing contact inside.

Hannes’ shooting came at low volume, but unlike fellow draft classmate Chris Cenac, there’s much more to like about the shooting upside here. Hannes didn’t go hunting for threes, but he tookthem when he was open (most of them coming from quick pops after a screen). His form and touch are great, and he posted encouraging numbers at the line. Might take a year or two, but I can definitely see Hannes contributing as a true floor spacing big very soon into his NBA career.

The Bad (Positional concerns)

I’m not really one to put Hannes into the “tweener” category based on his size. The guy is gonna be a hair under 7 feet in shoes and weighs almost 250 lbs; those are NBA center measurements.

Hannes’ positional projection is called into question due to his style of play and how that fits into the modern NBA. He’s a fine rim protector (but he’s not a great one), and he’s a rather slow perimeter defender, though he at least plays with effort. Lacking the verticality to play center and the quickness to play forward means that Hannes needs to find his niche rather quickly if he wants to stick around. Considering his skillset and physical profile, center makes the most sense for him.

Hannes’ defensive profile is more as a help defender. He’d likely need to play with superior rim deterrents lest he gets targeted at the rim. Regardless, he doesn’t make too many mistakes even if that doesn’t show up in the box score.

I’ll go back to his passing/connecting abilities, because while I think there are some encouraging signs, Hannes still posted a poor AST/TO ratio and often got tied up on the pick-and-rolls that the Huskies ran. I don’t think this is as big of a concern, but it’s something to note.

The Fit (The Jakob Poeltl Successor?)

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.

Conclusion

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.

The post 2026 NBA Draft: Hannes Steinbach is the stretch big the Raptors have been searching for first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk details the latest in the Raptors realm.

From the Raptors:

“The Toronto Raptors and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced Monday that they have agreed to a multi-year extension for general manager and executive vice president Bobby Webster. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“We’re building something special here, and I’m proud to continue to lead the Toronto Raptors as we work towards our next championship,” Webster said. “Thank you to Keith and the MLSE Board of Directors for their confidence and support. This is a franchise that’s focused on the future, and we’re ready for what’s next.”

“Bobby has an elite understanding of the game and the NBA, and he’s used that to build a team that competes at a high level,” MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said. “It’s been an exciting year for the Raptors. They were a joy to watch compete together, and with Bobby and the Raptors, we’ve seen the results, and we believe in where his leadership will take us.”

The Raptors also announced contract extensions for key front office members: Dan Tolzman, vice-president, player personnel and assistant general manager; Keith Boyarsky, vice-president, basketball strategy and research; and Tyla Flexman, vice-president, operations.

“This group has been integral to building the organization and shaping our long-term vision – their leadership, expertise and commitment is second to none,” Webster said.

Webster, 41, is headed into his 10th season as general manager and now adds executive vice-president to his title. Webster assumed full leadership of the Raptors in August 2025 after eight years as the club’s GM. Prior to that, he served as assistant general manager and vice-president, basketball management and strategy. 

 After joining the Raptors in June 2013, Webster helped elevate a team that had not been to the postseason since 2008 into a perennial playoff contender, and, in 2019, an NBA Champion. His teams have made nine playoff appearances, two trips to the Eastern Conference finals, won six Atlantic Division titles and recorded five 50-win seasons. During Webster’s time in Toronto, his teams have compiled a 591-455 (.565) regular season mark.”

Have a blessed day.

The post RAPTORS EXTEND BOBBY WEBSTER first appeared on Raptors Republic.

“We’re building something special here, and I’m proud to continue to lead the Toronto Raptors as we work towards our next championship.

Thank you to Keith and the MLSE Board of Directors for their confidence and support. This is a franchise that’s focused on the future, and we’re ready for what’s next.”

• Webster on his extension

Other key members of the Raptors’ front office also received extensions, including: Dan Tolzman, vice-president, player personnel and assistant general manager; Keith Boyarsky, vice-president, basketball strategy and research; and Tyla Flexman, vice-president, operations.

“This group has been integral to building the organization and shaping our long-term vision – their leadership, expertise and commitment is second to none.”

• Webster on other front office extensions

The extension comes ahead of a crucial offseason for the Raptors, one that will mark Webster’s 10th season as general manager of the team. Prior to that he served as assistant general manager and vice-president, basketball management and strategy. In August of 2025 Webster assumed full leadership of the club after the team let go of President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri, who has since accepted a role as the lead man for the Dallas Mavericks.

Over Webster’s time with the Raptors, the team has been a perennial playoff contender, making nine playoff appearances, two trips to the Eastern Conference finals, winning six Atlantic Division titles, recording five 50-win seasons and of course, winning an NBA championship in 2019.

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said this on Webster’s extension and promotion:

“Bobby has an elite understanding of the game and the NBA, and he’s used that to build a team that competes at a high level. It’s been an exciting year for the Raptors. They were a joy to watch compete together, and with Bobby and the Raptors, we’ve seen the results, and we believe in where his leadership will take us.”

The post Toronto Raptors extend and promote Bobby Webster first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Alongside this being a major first for the U18 squad, it also snaps the Americans’ record of seven straight AmeriCup titles, dating back to 2010.

Point Guard Javion Tyndale led the way scoring-wise for the Canadians, dropping 19 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Tyndale was also named to the tournament’s All-Star Five alongside fellow Canadian Lyris Robinson. In the title game, Robinson dropped 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Robinson and Tyndale are two of three Canadians to score double-digit points in this game, alongside Deng Ngor.

“The thing that fuelled me was just the chemistry on our team,” said Robinson in an interview with Basketball Canada. “We knew coming into this tournament that we were one of the best teams here, and that we had a chance to win it all. I’m a player that loves to win and make winning plays, so seeing my teammates fight the same way I was fighting- that’s what it takes to win a championship.”

As pointed out by ClutchPoints, Canada’s efficiency at the free throw line proved to be the decisive factor in the win over the U.S.- converting 17 of 24 attempts while the U.S. managed just 3 of 8

Historically, the Canadians have actually been pretty strong in this tournament, but Gold has always been out of reach. Since 2008, the Canadians have finished third five times and second three times.

Robinson also mentioned in the interview earlier that “From training camp, we kept saying we wanted to prove Canada was the best team in the world. I think people will now respect Canada Basketball even more. We put the world on notice this week.

The post Canada shocks U.S. to win first FIBA U18 AmeriCup first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Toronto made progress, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference and re-establishing itself as a playoff team. However, it is clear that the first-round exit against the Cleveland Cavaliers exposed a real gap between being competitive and being a true contender. If the Raptors want to close that gap, changes are coming. With that being said, a mindset like that naturally raises the question: who is actually untouchable?

To me, there are three players the Raptors should not consider moving

1. Scottie Barnes

This one is obvious.

Scottie Barnes is the foundation of everything Toronto is building. Since entering the league in 2022, he has developed into a true two-way force and a legitimate face of the franchise type player. In five seasons, he has averaged 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, along with over a steal and a block per game.

His resume already speaks for itself. He is a Rookie of the Year, he’s earned two All-Star appearances, and a recent All-Defensive Team selection, one that many around the league felt could have been even higher.

More importantly, the organization views him as a superstar already. Head coach Darko Rajakovic made that clear when discussing Barnes’ trajectory during an interview near the end of their season.

He stated “I expect more from Scottie. Scottie is going to bring more. Scottie is 60 percent of what he’s going to be in 3–4 years… he’s going to be one of the best players in the league.”

That kind of internal belief says everything. Barnes isn’t just part of the Raptors’ future, he is the future. 

2. Ja’Kobe Walter

Ja’Kobe Walter’s season was a reminder of how quickly young players can change their outlook.

Selected 19th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Walter had an uneven start to the 2025-26 season, averaging 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and one steal per game. However, his role and impact grew significantly as the year progressed, especially after injuries opened up opportunities in the rotation.

By the time the season came to a close, Walter had become one of Toronto’s most reliable perimeter threats, shooting 40 percent from three on over three attempts per game. That mark made him the only Raptor consistently meeting that volume and efficiency. Those kinds of numbers matter especially on a team that finished 26th in made threes and 21st in three-point percentage (35.4 percent).

By Game 3 of the playoff series against Cleveland, Walter had already shown flashes of being more than a role player. For a second-year guard taken at 19, that kind of progression is exactly what rebuilding teams hope to see.

And interestingly enough, the Raptors once again hold the 19th pick in the upcoming 2026 draft.

3. Collin Murray-Boyles

If Walter represents shooting upside, Collin Murray-Boyles represents everything else.

In 57 games (22 starts), Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points on nearly 58 percent shooting, along with 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and close to a steal and a block per game. His impact came through consistency, energy, and smart basketball.

He fit seamlessly into Toronto’s system from day one. Whether it was defensive rotations, hustle plays, or simply being in the right spot at the right time, Murray-Boyles consistently found ways to affect winning.

There is still development needed on the offensive side, particularly as a shooter, but the foundation is already strong. Players who impact the game without needing touches tend to stick, and grow, on winning teams. There is a reason he was named to the All-Rookie Second team.

If this rookie season is any indication, the Raptors may have found another long-term piece.

The Rest of the Roster

Beyond those three, the picture becomes far less clear.

There is no true “untouchable” conversation outside those guys, and even among the supporting cast, the Raptors should be open-minded about potential upgrades. The most debated case is Brandon Ingram.

Ingram is undeniably a talented scorer and a strong fit alongside Toronto’s core when healthy. However, his role is not irreplaceable. The Raptors showed during his injury absence in the playoffs that they can remain competitive even without him.

If Toronto wants to take the next step, it may need to shift from valuing individual talent to prioritizing roster balance. That could mean exploring moves involving core rotation players if it leads to more depth and flexibility around Barnes.

The post Raptors’ untouchable core: who Toronto must keep past the 2026 NBA offseason first appeared on Raptors Republic.

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

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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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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.

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