The Raptors’ offseason has been built around one idea: Kawhi Leonard in Toronto. If that idea collapses, the fallout goes far beyond missing out on a star.
The deal between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers is still not done, even after the NBA finished its investigation into the Clippers and handed down a significant punishment. That penalty has fueled speculation that Toronto might revisit its offer for Leonard, though nothing official has surfaced and neither team has said the trade is off. Still, the longer this drags on, the more one question hangs over the whole situation: could it actually fall apart?
If it does, the Raptors would be left with more than a missed opportunity. They would have spent the offseason shaping their roster around Leonard only to see him wind up elsewhere. That would leave Toronto to sort through what comes next with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick still in the mix, while the front office figures out how to reset its direction.
So far, the rest of the offseason has been light. Outside the draft, Toronto’s only notable additions were veteran forward Kyle Anderson and Trey Jemison on a two-way deal. With about six weeks left before opening night, the Raptors would have to answer a real question about whether this group has enough star power to stay in the East’s contender conversation.
That conversation looked very different when the Leonard trade was first reported. Toronto was instantly mentioned among the teams capable of challenging the defending champion New York Knicks. Last season, the Raptors finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, then saw their year end in disappointment with a game seven loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
Even without Leonard, Toronto would still bring back much of the same roster from last season, with Sandro Mamukelashvilli the lone notable departure after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. But there’s a massive difference between trying to build on a 46-win season with a familiar core and adding a true superstar to pair with Scottie Barnes.
And that’s where the pressure really lands if the trade disappears. With Leonard, Barnes would slide into the No. 2 role behind a two-time champion who has done it with two different teams and is still producing at a high level on both ends. Without him, the burden stays right where it was last season: Barnes as the player Toronto needs to grow into a franchise cornerstone, with RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram alongside him.
That path could help Barnes develop, but it also puts the franchise in a risky spot. Toronto’s ceiling would rise or fall with Barnes, and the team would go only as far as he can carry it.
From there, the Raptors would have to choose their next move: chase another major swing, stay patient with Barnes and the young core, or try to find something in between.
In Other News...
Clippers Still Havent Finalized The Kawhi Leonard Blockbuster
The NBAs investigation into the Clippers cleared one major hurdle for Toronto by fining Kawhi Leonard without imposing a suspension, which removed the league-level obstacle to a deal. Even so, the transaction has not moved from agreement to reality, with the final paperwork tied up while the Clippers sort through the aftermath of their front office upheaval and wait for the right people to sign off.
For the Raptors, the key point is that the trade still appears headed toward completion as originally constructed, even if the process has taken longer than expected. There has been some chatter about whether the terms could be revisited before everything is finalized, but the prevailing expectation remains that Toronto will land Leonard on the package that was initially worked out. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors May Have Finally Nailed A Pick That Changes Everything
The Raptors have spent enough time dealing with the mixed results of contract extensions and draft swings to know how much a clean hit can matter. Collin Murray-Boyles gave them one last season, and the early read around the league is that Toronto may have finally landed a first-rounder who looks built to matter for more than just one phase of the rebuild. His arrival has given the front office something it can actually build around, which is not something the Raptors have been able to say often enough in recent years.
Murray-Boyles also did more than simply look promising in a vacuum. He earned All-Rookie honors and held up well during the playoffs even as injuries thinned out the roster around him, which only sharpened the attention on what comes next. For Toronto, his development has quickly become one of the defining storylines of the coming season, because if he keeps moving forward, this pick could end up changing the way the franchise is judged. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Season May Hinge On 3 Roles Changing Fast
The Raptors are heading toward the 2026-27 season with a core that should look familiar, but the bigger storyline is how a few key pieces may be asked to work differently. Scottie Barnes is still projected to be the kind of do-it-all force Toronto builds around, only the burden on his offense is expected to ease as the roster around him changes, while rookie Murray-Boyles and second-year guard Walter are both positioned to become more important in specific lineup spots.
Walters growth may be especially important because Toronto needs answers on the wing and in the backcourt, where role clarity can make the difference between a balanced rotation and a shaky one. The expectation is that his shooting and backup guard responsibilities will expand, and Murray-Boyles will be counted on for more as well, but how quickly those changes happen could shape how smoothly the Raptors navigate the season. [Read more 🡒]