The Toronto Raptors are heading into the 2026-27 season with a real playoff bar in front of them, and it’s set high. After winning 46 games, claiming the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and then falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, anything short of a second-round trip would land as a major letdown.
Toronto’s next step is all about proving last season wasn’t a one-off. Darko Rajaković still has the job of turning that group into something more durable, and the Raptors are banking on continuity to help them do it. Most of the roster is back, but this offseason still brought a few notable changes, and the team is hoping those tweaks are enough to push it into the top four.
One reason for optimism is that some of the teams above Toronto last season took hits of their own. The Celtics lost Jaylen Brown, while the Pistons lost Tobias Harris.
Neither club made a splash to offset that, either, with Mitchell Robinson and John Collins standing as their biggest additions. In other words, two of the four teams that finished ahead of the Raptors last year got worse.
Toronto’s biggest move was tied to both an exit and a return, as Brandon Ingram was shipped out to bring back Kawhi Leonard, at least in principle. Scottie Barnes remains the centerpiece, and the supporting cast around him includes Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, Allen Graves and Jaden Bradley.
The East, though, still looks crowded. Philadelphia added Jaylen Brown to a group that already includes Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, which makes the 76ers look like a top-three team in the conference, with or without LeBron James. Miami also made a major swing by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, a move that should lift the Heat as well.
Elsewhere, the Cavaliers and Hawks appear to be running back teams that are fairly close to what they had a year ago, and both should remain in the mix. That leaves Toronto trying to carve out its place in a conference that doesn’t look like it’s giving much away.
For the Raptors, the season likely comes down to two things: health and production. Leonard’s availability is the big swing factor, and his injury history and "load management" loom over everything. Toronto is counting on him to be on the floor enough to matter when the games tighten up.
The safest read right now is that the Raptors are again in the fight for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. If Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter keep growing and Leonard gives them 60+ games, a top-four finish is well within reach. If Leonard misses a chunk of time, though, Toronto could slip into the 6th or 7th spot.
In Other News...
Raptors Just Took Another Hit In Their Backup Center Search
Torontos search for a backup center has taken another turn, and the picture behind Jakob Poeltl still looks unsettled heading into the new season. With the veteran option no longer in the mix, the Raptors are left trying to piece together a workable answer for a spot that matters every night, especially for a team that wants to stay competitive without overtaxing its starting big.
Collin Murray-Boyles is the likeliest fallback if Toronto does not add anyone else, but that comes with obvious questions about whether he can handle the job full time. The Raptors have also taken a look at summer league bigs Nate Bittle and Jamarion Sharp as longer-range possibilities, though neither is viewed as someone who would step in right away, which leaves the front office with a decision it still has not solved. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes May Finally Be Headed For The Role Fans Want
Scottie Barnes has already shown enough all-around talent to make Torontos future feel promising, but the next step for him may be less about polish and more about force. The Raptors have long wanted a young cornerstone who can bend a defense, take over possessions and bring a little more edge to the scoring end, and Barnes has the kind of skill set that could eventually fit that bill if his role keeps expanding.
The appeal is obvious for a team that still wants to think big: Barnes developing into a more aggressive offensive presence could give Toronto another path to contention, the same way Pascal Siakams rise helped reshape the franchises ceiling during the 2019 title run. If Barnes keeps trending that way, the Raptors would not just be banking on talent, but on a player who could help stretch their championship timeline in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Get One More Vegas Test As Allen Graves Draws Spotlight
Toronto gets one more Las Vegas look Friday against Miami, with the Raptors trying to keep their Summer League run moving in the right direction after back-to-back wins. The final game of the trip carries a little extra weight, too, because a victory would push Toronto to 3-1 and keep its semifinal hopes alive in a field where every result matters.
Allen Graves has been at the center of the Raptors early buzz, showing why Toronto made him a first-round pick and why his Summer League minutes have drawn attention. He opened with a big night, then came back to earth in his last outing, which makes this matchup another useful checkpoint for a roster that has looked sharper as the week has gone on and now gets one more chance to make a statement before leaving Vegas. [Read more 🡒]