The Toronto Raptors are sitting at 5-5 after 10 games, and the early season picture has already swung hard in both directions. Some players are building momentum, while others are seeing their outlook dim quickly.
One of the clearest risers has been Jamal Shead. He has handed out at least six assists in each of his last six games, and he’s averaging 8.2 per game over that stretch.
That run has pushed him into the conversation as a real backup point guard option behind Immanuel Quickley. Shead’s 16 assists in Quickley’s absence during Toronto’s win over the Bucks only added to the intrigue, and it has raised the question of whether the Raptors might view Quickley as more expendable.
Another player whose stock is climbing is CMB. With Jakob Poeltl struggling and Toronto recommitting to making CMB the team’s primary big, his role is growing by the game.
The increased minutes and touches have come with a natural defensive connection alongside Scottie Barnes, and that pairing gives the Raptors a stronger chance to function well on both ends. There’s also the added wrinkle of CMB showing a willingness and aptitude for shooting the 3, which could open up another layer for Toronto offensively and defensively.
On the other side of the ledger, Jakob Poeltl’s stock is sliding. The source material points to his uneven play and the fact that he has not been 100 per cent healthy.
The more he’s been on the floor, the less likely it appears that he fits as someone the Raptors should keep for the long run. With the way he has played so far, it’s difficult to picture Toronto reaching its goals with him as the starting center.
Kawhi Leonard is also trending downward, and availability is the biggest issue. He played in the first two games, both wins, but the Raptors have gone 3-5 since then with him sidelined.
Leonard is dealing with knee swelling, which is a concern for what lies ahead. Toronto has a long season in front of it, and the team needs him available if it wants to succeed at the highest level.
As the source notes, Leonard is already off to a bad start, and it’s unlikely that he makes it through the full season playing.
In Other News...
Raptors Trade Idea Could Fix Two Problems Toronto Can't Ignore
The Raptors have settled into a 5-5 start, but the early stretch has also made two weaknesses hard to miss: the lack of reliable 3-point shooting and the uncertainty in the middle of the floor. Kawhi Leonards absence after just two games because of a left knee injury has only sharpened the spotlight on a roster that still looks like it is searching for the right balance around its top pieces.
One proposed fix has Toronto sending Jakob Poeltl and draft picks to the Clippers for Brook Lopez and Max Strus, a deal that would try to address both the frontcourt and the perimeter at once. It is still just a hypothetical, but it speaks to the kind of roster questions the Raptors cannot ignore for long, especially with Poeltls health and contract situation adding another layer of uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Enter Brutal Stretch With Kawhi Still Not Close To Returning
Kawhi Leonards return remains on hold, and the Raptors are headed into another difficult stretch without one of their biggest names. Toronto announced that Leonard will miss at least one more week as he continues reconditioning after treatment for left knee swelling, a setback that has kept him out since Oct. 23. He has been back around the team recently, but he still has not resumed on-court work.
The timing only adds to the challenge for a roster already juggling injuries elsewhere. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley are among the other Raptors dealing with health issues, and the team has been careful about managing availability rather than rushing anyone back. For a group trying to steady itself, Leonards absence leaves another important piece missing just as the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Kawhi Leonard's Absence Leaves Raptors Waiting On A Crucial Next Step
Kawhi Leonard will spend another week on the sideline as the Raptors continue to wait for his left knee to respond to reconditioning work. Toronto said Leonard, who has been out since Oct. 23, is now set to keep moving through his rehab process after missing eight straight games, leaving the team without one of its most important pieces for a third consecutive week.
The next checkpoint is still a week away, which keeps the focus on patience rather than any immediate return date. For a Raptors team trying to sort out its rotation and stay steady in the meantime, Leonards absence remains the biggest variable on the roster, and the latest update only pushes the next real answer a little farther down the road. [Read more 🡒]