The Raptors’ next internal battle may be less about drama and more about sorting out who actually sticks.
Toronto already knows the top of the rotation. Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes are the clear headliners, while Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl still have something to prove. Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamal Shead round out the younger group that looks set to stay in the mix, giving the Raptors eight players who feel pretty locked into recurring roles.
The real question comes further down the roster, where Jamison Battle, Allen Graves and Kyle Anderson are fighting for that next bench spot. That’s where the competition gets interesting, because there isn’t enough room for everyone to matter every night.
Battle looks like the safest early bet. He’s been around Toronto longer than the others, and his value is pretty clear: he can raise the team’s three-point ceiling without needing the ball in his hands for long stretches.
Over his two seasons with the Raptors, Battle has already shown he can catch fire in small bursts. He doesn’t need a huge workload to make an impact.
If he gets hot, he can change a game fast.
Still, Graves has a real chance to push his way into the conversation. The rookie may end up spending time with the 905 while he builds up reps, but even in Summer League he showed he can affect the game on both ends.
He came into the draft with a reputation as an analytics and advanced stats darling, and the appeal is obvious: he’s not flashy, but he does the little things that help teams win. There’s no guarantee the shooting comes right away, but Toronto has found young players who can contribute sooner than expected before, and Graves fits that kind of mold.
And then there’s Anderson, who was a sneaky pickup in free agency. He’s basically an older version of Graves in terms of role, but that doesn’t make him redundant.
Toronto can use him as a small-ball option in certain matchups or slot him into a strong defensive group. He gives the Raptors another versatile piece to work with.
That’s the beauty of this kind of roster fight. It’s not just about who looks best in a vacuum; it’s about who earns the trust to play when the minutes get tight.
Toronto could rotate the trio depending on the night, but the calendar will eventually force a decision. As the season moves closer to playoff time, there won’t be much room for everyone.
The rookie, the veteran or the shooter - somebody is going to separate.
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