The Toronto Raptors are suddenly going to learn a lot about Ja'Kobe Walter.
Kawhi Leonard’s left knee swelling has opened the door, and with Leonard set to miss a “period of weeks,” Walter is moving into a much bigger role far earlier than anyone would have planned. Toronto said there is no structural damage and that the club is being cautious, but that doesn’t make the loss any easier to absorb this early in the season.
Walter started against Minnesota, and that lineup decision made sense given the Raptors’ personnel. Darko Rajakovic likely wanted to avoid stacking another non-shooter next to Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl with Collin Murray-Boyles in the mix. Now Walter looks set for a long leash over the next three weeks, giving the Raptors a real look at whether a Year 3 leap is on the table.
The appeal is straightforward. Toronto drafted Walter a year after Gradey Dick, a player with a nearly identical offensive profile, and Walter quickly won the edge because he brought more on the defensive end and from 3-point range.
Those two strengths are going to be tested hard with Leonard sidelined. That safety net is gone.
Walter’s production dipped from 8.6 points per game as a rookie to 7.5 last season, though that came in a very different context on a playoff team rather than one that was tanking. Even so, he shot better than 40% from deep last year, and that kind of reliability has been precious for a Raptors group that has spent years searching for steadier perimeter shooting.
The challenge is bigger because of what the rest of the lineup is doing. Scottie Barnes just put up a goose egg against the Timberwolves, and RJ Barrett’s hot start has been muted a bit by his poor 3-point shooting. That leaves Walter with a clear assignment: give Toronto some scoring punch while holding up defensively well enough that Leonard’s absence doesn’t land too heavily.
Toronto could have gone in other directions in the Leonard trade, but Walter stayed put precisely for chances like this. If he struggles, Rajakovic won’t have an easy fix.
Jamal Shead has been struggling, and Jamison Battle may not offer enough across the board to justify starter minutes. If the defense becomes a problem, Collin Murray-Boyles could move into the lineup, but that would create a frontcourt heavy on non-shooters with him, Barnes, and Poeltl all sharing the floor.
According to Michael Grange, the earliest Raptors fans should expect Leonard back is November 9 against the Memphis Grizzlies. That would cover at least six games. If Walter makes the most of this stretch, he could come out of it with a bigger offensive role waiting for him even after Leonard returns.
In Other News...
Raptors-Magic Suddenly Looks Very Different After New Injury News
What had looked like a straightforward Raptors-Magic matchup has quickly taken on a very different feel after the latest injury updates. Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard for several weeks because of right knee inflammation, leaving a significant hole in the lineup and altering the way the team will have to approach the stretch ahead.
Orlando is dealing with its own setbacks, with Paolo Banchero expected out for 4-6 weeks because of a right high ankle sprain and Jalen Suggs sidelined for two games with a right knee bone bruise. Anthony Black, who had been listed as questionable, has been cleared to play, giving the Magic at least one more available body as both teams adjust to a suddenly thinner game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face An Early Test As Injuries Raise The Stakes
The Raptors head into their matchup with Orlando still sorting through the offensive issues that showed up in the loss to Minnesota, where Scottie Barnes had a particularly rough night. Toronto needs more from its young centerpiece, especially in terms of aggressiveness and playmaking, and this stretch against the Magic offers a chance to reset before the seasons early frustrations settle in.
Orlando comes in dealing with its own injury problems, with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs both sidelined, which changes the look of the game even if the challenge remains real. For Toronto, that only adds to the importance of handling business against a depleted opponent, because the Raptors can use a clean offensive performance just as much as they need a result. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Is Raising A Real Concern For The Raptors Offense
Scottie Barnes early-season shot profile has become a notable wrinkle for the Raptors, and not necessarily the kind that encourages confidence. Instead of living at the rim the way he has in past seasons, Barnes has been leaning more heavily into mid-range looks, a shift that has altered the balance of Torontos offense and taken some of the pressure off defenders to protect the paint.
Darko Rajakovic has said opposing coverages have played a role in that change, but the larger concern is whether Barnes can get back to being a consistent paint threat while still operating as a playmaker. He has already shown flashes in the opening stretch, then followed that with a rough shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which only adds to the sense that Toronto is still trying to figure out how best to use its most important young piece. [Read more 🡒]