The Toronto Raptors finish up their preseason Friday night in Detroit, and the lineup picture should look a lot different than it did in the 122-120 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. With most of the regular rotation expected to sit, this one is all about the end of the roster and the players fighting to stick.
That makes the game against the Pistons less about the headline names and more about who can seize the last few opportunities left. Toronto has a couple of roster questions still hanging in the balance, and this is the final stage for a few players to make their case.
One name to keep an eye on is Graves, who was dressed in street clothes against the Knicks. That was a little surprising given that he could be in the mix for a rotation role, but he has been dealing with a groin injury. The Raptors may have simply been exercising caution with another game coming just 24 hours later, or they may have been setting him up for a bigger workload in this one so he could get more reps and keep building his game.
Either way, this matchup should help clarify where he stands. His role could end up leaning more toward the G League to start the year, and it will be worth watching whether he looks like the same kind of driving force he was in the Las Vegas Summer League or more of a supporting piece in the way he projects to fit during the regular season.
The two-way race is another layer to this final preseason test. After waiving Trey Jamison III earlier this week, Toronto now has a pair of two-way spots open alongside Malachi Smith. That leaves Tyreke Evans, Namari Burnett and Jamarion Sharp with one last chance to make the kind of impression that matters.
With the starters and most of the important reserves likely out, those players should get a real runway to show what they can do. This is the sort of night where a strong stretch can carry real weight with the coaching staff and front office.
Sharp, in particular, is a player worth watching closely. The Raptors already showed they’re willing to adjust at center by moving on from Jamison and bringing in Sharp, who stands 7'5" and brings plenty of intrigue. The big question is whether he can become someone Toronto trusts during the season.
Friday gives him another chance to answer that. For a third-year pro still trying to carve out a role, this is the kind of moment that can matter.
In Other News...
Raptors Rotation Questions Just Got Louder Ahead Of Opening Night
The Raptors final preseason tune-up against the Knicks offered a little of everything Toronto has been sorting through before opening night, from encouraging flashes to the same lineup questions that have followed the team all month. Scottie Barnes stood out with 23 points and 4 blocks, giving Toronto the kind of all-around impact it wants from its top players, while Jamison Battle chipped in 10 points off the bench and kept his case for a larger role alive.
Still, the 122-120 loss also put some of the rotation uncertainties back in view. Jakob Poeltl had a rough defensive night against Karl-Anthony Towns, and Dalano Banton never found his shot, leaving the Raptors with more to think about as they narrow things down for the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Keeps Fueling A Raptors Debate That Really Matters
Scottie Barnes keeps giving the Raptors something bigger to think about than the box score. In his latest outing, he finished with 23 points while also filling up the stat sheet with rebounds, assists and blocks, and the shape of his night said as much about Torontos direction as the final totals did. He was clearly willing to take charge early and late, which is the version of Barnes that can lift the whole offense when he decides to impose himself.
The issue, as always, is the middle of the game. Barnes looked more passive in the second and third quarters before turning assertive again when it mattered most, and that uneven rhythm is at the heart of the debate around him. Toronto does not just need flashes of aggression from its best young player. It needs that pressure applied more consistently, because when Barnes keeps his foot on the gas, the Raptors look like a team with a much higher ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Still Have One Roster Decision Left Before Final Cuts
Smith, Holifield and Pritchard all spent the preseason around the Oklahoma City Thunder on Exhibit 10 contracts, and their next stop is expected to be with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League. For Oklahoma City, that is part of the usual late-September shuffle, with camp invites and affiliate-bound players helping teams sort out depth while getting a closer look before the regular season.
The Thunder still have 18 players under contract, which leaves room for at least one more roster move before the cutdown deadline. Around the league, the ripple effect of these camp decisions continues to show up elsewhere too, with Toronto signing Jalen Celestine to an Exhibit 10 deal and the Spurs, Kings and Mavericks each waiving players who are expected to land with their G League affiliates. [Read more 🡒]