Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles has already done enough in one season to make the next step feel obvious. Taken with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft, he carved out a real spot in the rotation as a rookie, and there’s a strong case that his workload should climb in 2026-27 even after the Raptors added Kawhi Leonard.
The numbers back that up. Murray-Boyles finished with 14 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals while averaging just under 22 minutes per game in his first NBA season.
Those per-36 numbers hint at a player who can handle more, and if he were starting full-time, the production would already look plenty sturdy. A player giving you 14 points and eight boards as a pseudo-starter can stick around a long time in this league.
That doesn’t mean the path is locked in. Murray-Boyles is expected to settle in as Toronto’s sixth or seventh man alongside Jamal Shead, though there will be chances to crack the starting group.
If Scottie Barnes or Leonard misses time, he could get the nod there. He also could slide in for Jakob Poeltl and serve as the team’s small-ball center, although it’s still unclear how often the Raptors would actually go to that look.
The playoff sample only strengthened the case for more minutes. Murray-Boyles posted 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in the postseason, and the experience clearly mattered. He didn’t start, but his playing time jumped from 21.9 minutes per game to 27.3, a sign that Toronto trusted him in the matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That kind of run matters for a young player finding his footing. Murray-Boyles showed he could hold up when the stakes rose, and that should only make him more comfortable going forward. On both ends, he’s the kind of player the Raptors can lean on, and the case for using him more often this season is pretty straightforward.
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The larger significance is what this deal says about Torontos timeline. A player option in the second year gives Leonard flexibility, but it also keeps the partnership alive at least for now, and the Raptors have reason to think bigger than a short push if the fit keeps working. For a team still evaluating how to build a contender around Barnes and Leonard, the next few seasons could tell them whether this is a brief reunion or the start of something longer. [Read more 🡒]