The Toronto Raptors spent much of this offseason trying to sharpen the roster around a team that fell in the first round in the spring, but one move has loomed over everything else: the Kawhi Leonard trade. Until that situation is resolved, the Raptors are stuck in a holding pattern, even as they continue to act like the deal will eventually get done.
That uncertainty has shaped the way the offseason looks so far. The league office has paused the trade because of the NBA’s ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers allegedly circumventing the salary cap, and the latest update points to that probe possibly not wrapping up until 2027. If the deal never goes through, Toronto could be left with the feeling that an entire offseason was built around something that never happened.
Still, the Raptors have made some additions that fit the direction they want to go. Kyle Anderson signed a one-year deal and gives Toronto more experience in the frontcourt. He also brings a connection to head coach Darko Rajakovic, having played for him when Rajakovic was an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies.
As Josh Elijah Nitsopoulos put it, "They continue to build on the prototypical players that fit in the Raptors’ vision.
"Re-upping on veteran presence with Kyle Anderson should help guide the Raptors’ young bench. The only area they have not addressed yet is the immediate point guard depth, which could still be a priority once the dust settles with the investigation."
There’s also a bigger issue in the frontcourt. Toronto still has just one player taller than 6-9 in Jakob Poeltl, and while Nate Bittle was added on an Exhibit 10 deal, his roster spot is not locked in for the regular season. The Raptors also selected Allen Graves in the draft, giving them another piece up front.
Rocco Moschella saw that as a step in the right direction, but not a complete fix. "With the signing of Kyle Anderson, and the selection of Allen Graves in the draft the Raptors added two solid rotation pieces to their front court. If the Kawhi Leonard trade ends up going through then this can be even better, but I still would have liked to see them add another centre who can match up with Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns."
That’s the balancing act for Toronto right now. The team has added some useful pieces and continues to wait on Leonard, but the whole offseason still hangs on whether the trade finally gets cleared. For now, the Raptors are in limbo, confident they can bring Leonard back to Toronto, but without the final answer that would make the rest of their summer come into focus.