When the Raptors took Alijah Martin with the No. 39 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the fit was pretty easy to picture. The defense, the energy, the downhill bursts - all of that made sense. What was less obvious was whether a second-round rookie could carve out any real lane on a team with bigger goals this season.
Preseason gave the answer.
Martin played in two exhibition games for Toronto, and his strongest showing came in the finale against Detroit. He wasted no time making an impression, putting up 13 of his 15 points in the first quarter while also bouncing around defensively and taking on multiple assignments.
That kind of aggression on both ends is exactly what stands out with him. More importantly, the confidence looked different this time.
Last season, there were moments when he seemed to hesitate, whether it was on a jumper or when deciding what read to make. Against the Pistons, with Toronto leaning on him as the primary creator to open the game, that hesitation wasn’t there.
It was a sign that he spent the summer tightening up his scoring game and becoming more comfortable taking open looks or attacking when he had a mismatch. He’s still not a finished product.
The shot remains a work in progress, and he hit just 33.3 percent from three this preseason. But even with that, the combination of a more assertive offensive approach and the same defensive nuisance value makes him a legitimate option when Toronto needs someone to step in.
That matters because the Raptors’ second unit already has a pretty clear hierarchy. Collin Murray-Boyles is first off the bench as the sixth man, followed by Ja’Kobe Walter, then Jamal Shead, then Jamison Battle.
If Darko Rajakovic goes with five reserves, Kyle Anderson would begin the year as the tenth man and gradually cede that spot to Allen Graves. Martin comes after that group.
That’s where his value shows up. He looks like the kind of player who can slide in when someone needs a night off on a back-to-back or when injuries force Rajakovic to reshuffle things.
If the absence is CMB or Jakob Poeltl, Trayce Jackson-Davis is probably the one who gets the nod. In other cases, Martin seems like the obvious call, because he doesn’t disrupt what Toronto wants defensively and now looks much more confident creating something on offense.
He also brings something less tangible but still important: familiarity with winning environments. From Florida to Florida Atlantic, he’s been around teams with title aspirations, and he’s comfortable fitting into whatever role helps the group win.
Every NBA season brings some level of health-related chaos. Not every team has a real answer for it.
Toronto might. Alijah Martin looks ready to be that next man up.
In Other News...
Raptors Just Sent A Strong Message About Nate Bittle
After trimming five players from the roster in the wake of their final preseason game, the Raptors made one of their clearest developmental statements by converting Nate Bittles Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract. Even with Bittle sidelined for the preseason because of injury, the move signaled that Toronto sees real value in the big man and wants to keep him in the fold as it builds out the back end of the roster.
For a team that could use more depth behind Jakob Poeltl, Bittle fits the kind of long-term project worth patience. His college track record and Summer League showing point to a player who can score around the rim and, at times, step out for a three, which gives Toronto a look at a developmental center with a more modern offensive profile. The injury kept him from taking part in the preseason, but the organizations decision suggests his runway with the Raptors is just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Still Have One Roster Debate Fans Should Be Watching
The Raptors search for a developmental roster addition comes with a familiar kind of intrigue, the sort that can turn an otherwise quiet part of the offseason into a real debate among fans. Bez Mbeng, Keba Keita, John Poulakidas and Milos Uzan all offer different traits that could appeal to Toronto, and each comes with the kind of raw upside teams like the Raptors tend to value when they are looking beyond the immediate rotation.
What makes the discussion interesting is how differently each player would need to be shaped once they got into the program. Some bring defensive tools, some offer shooting, and some profile as guards who could grow into more responsibility with time. For Toronto, the question is less about a finished product and more about which developmental bet fits best with the organizations approach, even if the answer is still very much unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Face A Real De'Aaron Fox Fit Question
The Spurs push to rework their roster has created a question worth watching from a Raptors angle, especially with San Antonio weighing how its current pieces fit around a Finals-level core. Internally, the organization reportedly views Dylan Harper as its second-best player, a sign that the front office is already sorting out where the major priorities lie as it looks toward the bigger picture.
DeAaron Fox has naturally become part of that discussion, and Toronto has surfaced in speculation as a possible trade destination if San Antonio decides to reshuffle its backcourt. The rumored framework would send RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley the other way, but nothing has been finalized, which leaves the Raptors potential role in any Fox move very much in the realm of what-ifs for now. [Read more 🡒]