Toronto Raptors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
· Yahoo Sports
The Eastern Conference became notably deeper and more talented this offseason, and the Toronto Raptors are very much one of the reasons why.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
Toronto made a splash with its acquisition of seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard. It has the potential to be a franchise-altering move, even though it had remained pending for more than a month, as the NBA wrapped up its investigation into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers over salary cap circumvention.
But with that now resolved, the Raptors can move forward and plan for what looks to be an intriguing season.
Here's a breakdown of the Toronto Raptors' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Toronto Raptors offseason review
- Record last season: 46-36 (5th in Eastern Conference)
- Playoff finish: Eliminated in first round (3-4, against Cavaliers)
- Coach: Darko Rajaković (fourth season)
- 2026-27 title odds: +3000 (per BetMGM)
- Projected record : 44-38
- Offseason grade : B+
Key roster additions
- F Kawhi Leonard (trade)
- F Kyle Anderson (free agent signing)
- F Allen Graves (draft)
- G Jaden Bradley (draft)
Key roster losses
- G Gradey Dick (trade)
- F Brandon Ingram (trade)
- F/C Sandro Mamukelashvili (free agency)
Biggest question entering training camp
Can Kawhi Leonard once again carry the Raptors to a title, and how will he gel with his new teammates?
- Toronto was one of the bigger surprises last year, posting a 16-win improvement over the prior season. Some of the team’s younger players were starting to develop. Yet, after failing to get past the first round, the Raptors clearly felt they needed to take a big swing in the offseason to take the next step. In comes Kawhi Leonard, who helped lead Toronto to a championship in 2019. And though he’s several years older, Leonard remains a superb two-way threat when healthy. He scores with efficiency and continues to be a defensive stopper. And now that the investigation about salary cap circumvention has been completed and Leonard was able to get off somewhat unscathed, he can focus on basketball. For the Raptors, that’s excellent news.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
- G Immanuel Quickley
- G RJ Barrett
- F Kawhi Leonard
- F Scottie Barnes
- C Jakob Poeltl
Rotation players
- G Jamal Shead
- G Ja’Kobe Walter
- F Allen Graves
- F Collin Murray-Boyles
- F Jamison Battle
- C Trayce Jackson-Davis
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Raptors exceeded expectations last season. They can do so once more, but the Eastern Conference suddenly became quite crowded with an offseason full of player movement. The Raptors, though, have a very solid starting five, though their depth is something of an issue — especially if injuries or foul trouble crop up. A duo of Leonard and Barnes is intriguing, particularly because of their defensive versatility. Toronto tied for fifth last season in defensive rating, allowing 112.1 points per 100 possessions. With Leonard in the fold, that figure should only improve. And they’ll need it, too; the East figures to have plenty of difficult, high-potency offenses.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toronto Raptors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.