Summer League usually lives in the margins of the NBA calendar - a place to get a first look at rookies, check in on young players and maybe spot a surprise or two. For the Raptors, though, it carries a lot more weight this year.
That’s because Toronto’s financial picture could get tight fast if the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through, and that leaves the front office with a very specific mission: find cheap players who can actually help. As Raptors reporter Michael Grange laid out for Sportsnet, the margin for error is going to be tiny.
“Well, you might have heard the Raptors are planning (hoping?) to acquire Leonard,” Grange wrote in a July 12 article.
“And if they do, they will have almost no financial flexibility this season. And if they sign him to a two-year extension worth about $123 million, they’ll be just as limited next season, maybe even in a tougher spot.
In that scenario, finding good players who can play on cheap contracts is a must for the Raptors. Summer League is a good place to find them.”
Grange also pointed to Chucky Hepburn as someone who could push for a full roster spot rather than staying on a two-way deal.
Toronto has found useful players in unexpected places before, even if Summer League hasn’t always been the path. Sandro Mamukelashvili was waived early in his career and played limited minutes before arriving in Toronto, then turned in a career year and even got some Sixth Man of the Year attention. Jamal Shead, meanwhile, was still getting run with the Raptors 905 in 2024 before becoming a major factor in the playoffs with his relentless defense.
The bigger issue for the Raptors is depth they can actually count on. If Leonard is on the roster next season, the top end looks mostly settled: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl in the starting five.
Shead would back up at point guard, Ja’Kobe Walter looks like the main wing reserve, and Collin Murray-Boyles is positioned as the primary frontcourt backup. Kyle Anderson and rookie Allen Graves should also be in the mix up front.
That group has real upside, but it’s not cleanly built. The center spot is thin, which puts extra pressure on Murray-Boyles.
Several key pieces also come with injury concerns. Leonard reached 60 games this past season, only the second time he’s done that since 2018-19.
Poeltl has not topped 57 games in any of the last three seasons. Quickley’s time in Toronto has already been interrupted by injuries as well; he played only 33 games last season and missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs this year.
On top of that, Leonard may have to serve a suspension.
So this isn’t just about filling out a roster. Toronto needs players who can be trusted to step in and hold their own when the team needs them. That gets a lot harder when the Raptors are operating with the kind of financial limits Leonard would bring.
In Other News...
Clippers Fans Suddenly Have A Real Reason To Worry About Kawhi
Kawhi Leonards potential return to Toronto has quickly become one of the most intriguing twists of the offseason, with the Raptors agreeing to bring back the former Finals MVP in a deal that would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft compensation to the Clippers. It is the kind of move that instantly changes the conversation around a franchise, especially for a fan base that already knows exactly what Leonard can mean when the stakes rise.
For now, though, the reunion is sitting in limbo while the NBA reviews Leonards salary cap situation. Even with the uncertainty hanging over the transaction, there is still a sense around the deal that both sides expect it to eventually get across the finish line, which is why Torontos interest in Leonard has not cooled despite the delay. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Could Lose Another Homegrown Gem For A Brutal Reason
Jamal Shead has already shown why he matters to Toronto, carving out a real role during the 2025-26 season and then taking on even more responsibility in the playoffs. When Immanuel Quickley was injured, Shead started four postseason games, logged heavy minutes and made his presence felt on both ends, the kind of homegrown development the Raptors have long valued.
The problem is that the business side may not line up with the basketball side. Michael Granger noted that Torontos payroll is becoming increasingly top-heavy, and if Kawhi Leonard signs a two-year extension, the Raptors could find themselves with limited flexibility when Shead reaches restricted free agency after the 2026-27 season. Toronto would have the right to match outside offers, but whether it can actually afford to do so is the part that could turn a promising internal success story into a difficult roster decision. [Read more 🡒]