We are two games into the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, and for the Toronto Raptors, the blueprint for building a contender is on full display.
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.