Immanuel Quickley gave the Raptors exactly the kind of offensive snapshot they’re hoping to see, even if it came in preseason and even if that caveat always matters.
In 19 minutes against the LA Clippers, Quickley hit five of his six 3-point tries. That followed a 1-of-4 effort in Toronto’s first preseason game against the Miami Heat, so the latest outing at least hints that he may be settling into a rhythm from deep.
That matters for a Raptors team that needs his shooting to open things up. Quickley’s spacing is important for giving Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes room to operate, and it also fits with Darko Rajakovic’s plan to keep Collin Murray-Boyles and Jakob Poeltl on the floor together. Quickley’s ability to stretch the defense helps make that pairing more workable.
He did more than just drill jumpers, too. Quickley finished with four assists and no turnovers in less than a full half of action, another encouraging sign for a player Toronto will count on to create offense as well as score it.
The larger picture is pretty clear: the Raptors need Quickley’s shooting to hold up. Last season, Toronto had three players finish at 40% from beyond the arc, but two of them weren’t regular rotation pieces.
AJ Lawson appeared in just 24 games, while Jamison Battle played only 8.5 minutes per game across 61 contests. Lawson is now in Europe, and Battle still has to show he can defend well enough to earn a larger role.
Ja’Kobe Walter was Toronto’s top perimeter shooter, connecting on 40.9% of his threes on 3.7 attempts per game, and the hope is that he carries that touch into his third NBA season.
The other names that came close to the 40% mark were Sandro Mamukelashvili, Brandon Ingram, and Quickley. Mamukelashvili has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, while Ingram was dealt to the LA Clippers to bring in Leonard.
Leonard has been a steady outside threat himself, shooting at least 37% from three on substantial volume in each of his last seven seasons. His arrival should give Toronto’s offense a real lift, but the Raptors still need more than one answer from long range.
For Quickley, that means continuing to make shots, getting teammates involved, pushing the tempo, and punishing defenses when he’s working off the ball. Toronto remains light on shooting even with Leonard added and with Battle possibly headed for a larger role.
If Quickley can stay around 38% from three on high volume again, he becomes a major asset for this version of the Raptors. With Leonard back in Toronto, he should see plenty of catch-and-shoot chances and more off-ball work, which could put him in position for his best scoring season as a Raptor.
In Other News...
Jakob Poeltl Just Gave Raptors Fans A Reason To Reconsider The Frontcourt
Jakob Poeltls preseason run against the Clippers gave the Raptors something they can always use a little more of up front: signs of life. In Torontos 114-106 win, Poeltl was active for more than 21 minutes and looked sharper than he had in previous outings, with better movement and effort showing up throughout the night as the team tried to sort out its frontcourt rotation.
The bigger takeaway may be what this kind of performance could mean for the rest of the roster. Torontos coaching staff seems open to exploring how Poeltl fits alongside Collin Murray-Boyles this season, rather than treating the two as a strict either-or choice, and that makes Poeltls return to form more than just a preseason footnote. If he can sustain this level, it could give the Raptors a more functional and flexible look inside. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Added A Giant With A Real Shot To Stick
Toronto is taking a fresh look at Jamarion Sharp, the free agent center set to join the Raptors and compete for a two-way contract. The move adds another big body to a preseason group that is already at 21 players, so the front office will have to clear a spot before Sharp can officially settle in with the club.
Sharps path has been a winding one, even by the standards of a player chasing an NBA foothold. He previously landed a two-way deal with the Clippers before getting waived, then spent most of his time in the G League, where his defensive work earned notice and kept him on the radar of teams looking for size and rim protection. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Barretts Early Raptors Role Could Create A Real Offensive Problem
With Kawhi Leonard sidelined for Torontos first two preseason games, RJ Barrett has been asked to do a lot more of the organizing and creation than he likely will once the games count. The expanded on-ball responsibilities mirror the version of Barrett the Raptors leaned on in the playoffs, where he was more than just a finisher and had to help drive the offense. It has given Toronto a useful look at how Barrett handles added control, but it also highlights how different this group can look when the roster is whole.
Barretts current role is built around a heavy share of the action, and that can be a tricky thing to unwind when Leonard returns and reclaims the top offensive spot. If Barrett has gotten used to initiating so much of what Toronto does, the adjustment back to a more complementary role could take some time and affect early-season rhythm. The Raptors need Barrett to stay productive, but they also need the offense to settle into a pecking order that works once the lineup is at full strength. [Read more 🡒]