The Toronto Raptors enter the 2026-27 season with a new ceiling and a lot of questions attached to it. After winning 46 games last year, the expectation inside the organization is that they can push toward 50, especially after an offseason that brought Kawhi Leonard in from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick.
That move changed the shape of the roster, and it also sharpened the debate around just how far Toronto can go. The Raptors are hoping to emerge as one of the East’s top teams, but the path to that outcome is far from clean.
Jeremy Brener pointed to the biggest conditions hanging over the season. “The Raptors do look better on paper, but it comes with a couple of asterisks.
They need Kawhi Leonard to be healthy and play for at least 60 or so games this season. On top of that, they need to find some solution at the center position.
"Jakob Poeltl is only going to get them so far in the starting lineup, so the Raptors are going to need some kind of upgrade to improve. On top of that, the East is as good as it has ever been, and there is going to be more competition for wins. Therefore, it wouldn't surprise me if the Raptors took a slight step back this season."
Marc Nolan sees a team that can thrive in the pressure of a crowded conference. “This Toronto Raptors team is built for the playoffs, but they will have some adjustments battling through a highly competitive eastern conference.
Very few easy nights, and I don't believe any Eastern Conference team wins 55 games. The ascension of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles will continue, Kawhi Leonard seems motivated to fit in.
The Raptors are going to be excellent.”
Sahal Arwo also sees a roster with real upside if it stays intact. “In the idealistic world where the Raptors stay healthy through most of the season, I find them as difficult a matchup as any team will face. With a strong defensive identity already established under Darko Rajakovic and Kawhi Leonard adding a needed jolt to the offense, I can see Toronto easily improving on last season's record and beginning the postseason with homecourt advantage.”
The season opens Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena, with coverage on Sportsnet and streaming available on the SN Plus app.
In Other News...
Trayce Jackson-Davis Just Forced His Way Into A Raptors Debate
Trayce Jackson-Davis picked a good time to make himself noticeable, and not just because Torontos final preseason game was the last chance to leave an impression before the real thing starts. The frontcourt picture already had enough moving parts, but Jackson-Davis gave the Raptors coaching staff a reason to look twice by pouring in 18 points in the second half and going 15-for-16 from the free-throw line overall.
That kind of touch matters because free throws have not always been a strength, and his opportunities were limited last season. His role for this year is still unsettled, but performances like this can change the conversation fast, especially for a team still sorting out who can earn real minutes inside. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Fans May Need Patience With Their First Round Pick
The Raptors used the 19th pick on Graves, a 6-foot-8 forward out of Santa Clara, and he looks like the kind of first-rounder who could benefit from a patient path. On a Toronto roster that can make minutes hard to come by for a rookie, the idea of spending time with Raptors 905 makes sense if it means more reps, more touches and a better chance to sharpen the parts of his game that will matter at the next level.
Graves is part of a broader draft class where even first-round status does not guarantee an immediate rotation role. Memphis Lopez, a young prospect from the NBL, and Peat, a late first-round pick coming off one season at Arizona, are also being mentioned as candidates for development time in the G League, a reminder that plenty of teams are willing to slow-play talent if the long-term payoff is worth it. For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: if Graves needs seasoning, there is a clear pipeline to give him it without losing sight of his upside. [Read more 🡒]