Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers looks on during the second half of a game against the Toronto Raptors in 2024.
Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers looks on during the second half of a game against the Toronto Raptors in 2024.
Imagine reading that sentence a year or two ago, you probably wouldn’t have believed it.
The return of Leonard has also spawned the re-emergence of actual expectations for a franchise that was a title contender just once following Leonard’s departure to the Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, there’s been a changing of the guard (Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, most notably, moving on) and a quick rebuild around franchise player Scottie Barnes. The Raptors surprised in winning 46 games a season ago and giving a better Cleveland Cavaliers team a stern test in a seven-game series that saw the Raptors missing starters Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram for all or most of the games.
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More will be expected in 2026-27. You’ve got questions and we’ve got some answers in the first of our Burning Questions series ahead of Monday’s media day.
Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion.
Can they stay healthy?
This is always an important one, but with this group, it’s the most important query. While Leonard played in at least 65 games in two of the last three seasons, nobody needs to be reminded of his lengthy injury history. The good news is he says he feels great and Toronto’s medical staff, led by Alex McKechnie, has done a better job of any other franchise of keeping him fit and on the court. Even with more load managing and though he’s now 35, now’s not the time to worry about Leonard.
Barnes bounced back from an injury-plagued year with his best campaign yet and will need to repeat that ability to stay healthy. Jakob Poeltl and Quickley have been banged up for good portions of the last two seasons (longer in Poeltl’s case) and will be out to prove that misfortune is in the rearview. Even RJ Barrett’s track record of durability is less accurate these days since the local product’s last three years of games played totals are: 57, 58 and 58. Key sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles battled a couple of ailments and only played in 57 games himself.
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On paper, this is a formidable squad that can hang with any opponent. But it’s rare that injuries don’t strike. Two years ago they used 39 different starting lineups. Last year it was down to 26.
Which Jakob Poeltl will they get?
When the Raptors brought back Poeltl in 2023 the results spoke for themselves: When he played, they had a much better chance of winning games than when he didn’t. He was their best screen-setter, offensive rebounder and a solid rim protector, passer and inside scorer who covered a lot of ground defensively. It wasn’t all that long ago that Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was raving about Poeltl, likening him to a bear. But that guy wasn’t the Poeltl anyone saw last season. Held to a career low of 46 games due mostly to a troublesome back, Poeltl was a shadow of his old self most of the time he was able to play (especially against Cleveland, when one-time all-star Jarrett Allen morphed into Wilt Chamberlain for stretches, including the crucial Game 7 while matched up with Poeltl).
They need a spry, mobile Poeltl. A player confident in his body and what it allows him to do. He doesn’t have to be the guy who was a slightly above average starting centre for a while, but Poeltl can’t be closer to the bottom either.
We’ve written about 25 times that he’s the only player taller than 6-foot-9 on the roster, but even if there was more at centre available, Poeltl would still remain an important Raptor.
Who will they miss most from last season?
Sandro Mamukelashvili emerged as one of the best free agent signings in franchise history. Alas, like Bismack Biyombo back in the day, the affable Georgian priced himself out of town with his strong play and landed a big deal with the Lakers.
Mamukelashvili’s shooting opened up a lot for last year’s team, which was one of the least dangerous outside shooting squads in the NBA. He could also put the ball on the floor and rebound well with a bit of play-making thrown in. It’s unclear who will pick up the slack.
That said, Mamukelashvili was far less effective in the playoffs and wasn’t a strong defender so it’s not like they’ll need to replace an all-around star.
What remains to be seen is how the Raptors make up for everything Mamukelashvili brought off the court. He was the definition of a glue guy, a teammate everyone loved being around who lightened the mood daily throughout a long season. Rookie Allen Graves seems like a similar personality, but first-year players never immediately.
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Who is the best bet to break out?
It’s basically a pick’em between Murray-Boyles, who only turned 21 in June and Ja’Kobe Walter, 22 years old as of a few weeks ago. Murray-Boyles looked special defensively in his first NBA season, looking way more advanced than nearly any rookie we’ve seen. He’s worked hard on his body and skill-set this summer and the former No. 9 overall draft pick has one of the highest ceilings on the team. He should be even more devastating defensively alongside Leonard and Barnes, but has a lot of untapped offensive potential too.
Walter also bulked up and will look to build on a superb second half and playoffs. He was one of the best three-point shooters in the league post-all-star and has always been talented at getting to the free throw line too. Throw in strong defensive instincts and we’d expect a bigger role for the Baylor product. He should start a number of games when Leonard is load managed or Barrett or Barnes are out and could be the sixth man the rest of the time.
Can Darko Rajakovic level up?
He was able to fly under the radar without much expected of his teams the first two years before more was required in 2025-26. Rajakovic was up for the challenge, directing Toronto to the fifth-best defensive rating in the league before excelling again in the series against the far more talented and deeper Cavaliers.
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But it’s one thing to go from the high lottery to a bit above .500, a challenge for sure, but not the same as taking the next step. With two All-NBA caliber players now on the roster, surrounded by a solid mix of veterans and emerging youngsters, the Raptors are being projected as a potential Top 3 seed in the loaded Eastern Conference and darkhorse championship threat.
Rajakovic has been an assistant on teams that made big jumps before and a head coach in the G League, where injuries and player call-ups jumbled up his roster options on a weekly basis. His predecessor Nick Nurse used to say things like those past experiences helped him in the championship season, particularly with Leonard constantly being in and out of the lineup, forcing alterations.
More eyeballs will be on the Raptors and Rajakovic. Can they meet the moment?
Part 2 will run this weekend.