Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
Toronto Raptors
An all-star, a third-year wing and an undrafted guard have stood out so far.
Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inboxSign Up
Published Oct 14, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 6 minute read
Gradey Dick
Gradey Dick #1 of the Toronto Raptors tries to get past Hunter Tyson #5 of the Denver Nuggets during the second half in a preseason NBA game at Rogers Arena on October 6. Photo by Rich Lam /Getty Images
Article content
With two thirds of the pre-season schedule completed, what have we learned about the Toronto Raptors? Not a ton, to be honest. The starting five has yet to play together because centre Jakob Poeltl has battled a back ailment and more recently a cold, the other four have been together only once, in the exhibition opener against Denver, and one game saw zero starters in action.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
Toronto plays Boston for a second time on Wednesday, this time on the road after a stirring comeback win last week, and then closes the pre-season at home against Brooklyn on Friday. After two straight injury-marred seasons, the hope is the full group will soon be ready to embark on a sustained run of good health.
Article content
Article content
It’s a small sample size, but here’s our view of how the Raptors have fared through four games:
STOCK UP
Brandon Ingram — Any worries about rust following a nearly 10-month layoff due to his severe ankle injury have quickly evaporated. Ingram has looked the part of an all-star talent, averaging 20 points in only 22.8 minutes over two games, nailing six-of-10 three-point attempts. Ingram’s also shown some play-making and only committed one turnover while dishing out five assists.
Advertisement 3
Article content
For a team that has been so poor offensively the last two years, Ingram is a real breath of fresh air. He gets the shots he wants from the spots he wants to get to. What a novel concept.
Gradey Dick — Locked in a fierce battle for wing minutes at the team’s deepest position, Dick needed to show something at camp. He’s been a pleasant surprise, shaking off one bad game to start things off with — three good to very good ones since. Besides the obvious, strong shooting, which was seen as Dick’s major strength entering the NBA but hasn’t yet translated (he’s shot 54.8% from the field, including 46.7% from three-point range through the four games), Dick has also showcased better stamina. He’s been relentless in attacking the glass, getting himself open off cuts and in sticking his nose in for loose balls. The team prizes Dick not only for his shooting capabilities, but also for his personality, which has contributed to Toronto’s strong chemistry, which has stayed positive even when losses piled up in 2024 and 2025.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 4
Article content
If he’s taken a leap, that bodes well for the future of the Raptors. Ideally Dick slots in as a standout sixth or seventh man, though he could see some starts if Ingram or RJ Barrett get hurt.
Chucky Hepburn — Maybe we should have seen this one coming. Undrafted, undersized, defensive-minded, older guard, sound familiar? We’re not guaranteeing Hepburn is the next Fred VanVleet or Jamal Shead, but he shares a few things with those two Raptors predecessors and has made his mark so far. Hepburn struggled mightily on offence at summer league, but has surprisingly hit 7-of-15 three-point attempts in the pre-season.
Loading...
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Play Video
What hasn’t been a shock has been seeing Hepburn put the clamps on opponents. The ACC defensive player of the year while at Louisville has 11 steals in four games. That’s as many assists as the point guard has handed out, a wild stat. Hepburn has been an absolute menace on defence and with Rajakovic installing a high-pressure scheme, he might just fight his way into a role with the big club. It helps that Immanuel Quickley and Shead are the only point guards ahead of him on the depth chart and Quickley has struggled to stay on the court since joining the Raptors.
Advertisement 5
Article content
Immanuel Quickley — Speaking of the lead guard, there’s a lot riding on a big Quickley season. U.S. media has been slagging his big contract, and there’s nobody else like him on the roster. Quickley is an elite pull-up shooter and the offence needs it. He also can run a team and has turned in some huge assist games as a Raptor. Interestingly, Rajakovic has had him in more of a shooting guard role this fall, letting others set the table for the team. That’s more of what Quickley was while with New York, including when he was second in sixth-man-of-the-year voting. He’s shot the ball well from outside, but not from elsewhere on the floor, but the most important thing is he’s looked healthy and confident.
Sandro Mamukelashvili — His signing went under the radar, but smart observers have been talking up Bobby Webster’s move to bring in the big Georgian. Mamukelashvili has been as advertised as a rebounder, only Scottie Barnes has been grabbing more rebounds, but his long-range shooting has been off so far. Still, it will surely come around and he does more of the little things than anticipated. Once Poeltl is back, Toronto should have a strong 1-2 combo at centre.
Advertisement 6
Article content
Collin Murray-Boyles — It’s too bad an injury forced Murray-Boyles to the sidelines for nearly two full games because he was looking way ahead of schedule before that. You don’t see many rookies instantly look like they belong defensively, but Murray-Boyles was instantly having an impact on that end. And though he missed 5-of-6 three-point attempts, Murray-Boyles’ shooting form looks more fluid than it did in college and even at summer league. Raptors fans should be excited about this prospect who even handed out eight assists vs. zero turnovers.
STOCK DOWN
Scottie Barnes — We’ll throw in the caveat that Barnes has been really good defensively, as usual. But at the other end it has not been pretty. Barnes has shot 3-for-17 from the field, taking shots that aren’t best-suited to his game. Still he’s only played 40 minutes and might be easing his way into things with a long season to go. This is still a player that does most things above average. He’s not a natural shooter though, so can help himself by getting to the areas where he can punish opponents instead of trying to be something that he’s not at this point.
Advertisement 7
Article content
Ja’Kobe Walter — This corner remains a believer in the former Baylor star, but his shooting is holding him back. Walter shot poorly the last two years in Vegas and is again way off (9-for-30, including 3-for-15 on three-pointers), but he earns time by defending hard, rebounding and is even adding some playmaking (11 assists, four turnovers in four games).
He doesn’t have the upside of Barnes or even Murray-Boyles, but Walter is also a consistent jump shot away from being a good, reliable two-way player.
STUCK IN NEUTRAL
Ochai Agbaji — Great rebounding, decent defence, but poor shooting would be the quick summary. Battling Dick and Walter, and due for a new contract, Agbaji is in an unclear spot.
Advertisement 8
Article content
Jonathan Mogbo — Way too many turnovers and the offence is still limited, but Mogbo remains a plus defender and rebounder. He’s held back by Barnes and Murray-Boyles playing his best position.
Jamal Shead — Shooting hasn’t been there, but Shead has done most of the other things well enough.
Jamison Battle — What you see is what you get with one of Toronto’s top shooters. He’s also caught in a minutes logjam though.
N/A:
Poeltl (The team needs to see its first group together soon, and Poeltl is a key cog at both ends of the floor).
Alijah Martin (high second-round pick hasn’t shown a lot after an excellent summer league performance in Las Vegas. Should get lots of time with Raptors 905).
Jared Rhoden, Olivier Sarr, David Roddy (three long-shots to make the roster. Sarr hit the game-winner on a nice play drawn up by head coach Darko Rajakovic.
@WolstatSun
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments