The Raptors’ 5-5 start has already been tested by injuries, but the bigger issue lately has been who has - and hasn’t - filled the gaps. Toronto heads into Wednesday’s matchup with the Boston Celtics trying to steady itself, and Ja’Kobe Walter has become part of the conversation for the wrong reasons.
Over the last four games, Walter has shot 28.2 percent from the field and 17.4 percent from three. His defense has also slipped, with his discipline wavering enough to leave him averaging three fouls per game in that stretch. Meanwhile, Jamison Battle has quietly become one of the most dependable pieces on the roster, and the case for giving him Walter’s starting spot is getting harder to ignore.
Battle has averaged 11.3 points per game over the last four games while hitting 48 percent of his threes on 6.3 attempts per game. That kind of shooting has given Toronto something it badly needs: a floor spacer who can stretch defenses and swing the three-point margin in the Raptors’ favor.
In Monday night’s loss to Memphis, Battle went 5-of-11 from deep and logged nearly a 92 percent three-point rate in the game, meaning nearly 92 percent of his shots were threes. That’s the kind of spacing impact Toronto has been chasing, especially with injuries forcing the team to win more through structure and execution than star power.
There’s also a developmental angle here for Walter. Moving him to the bench would let him handle the ball more and potentially unlock more self-creation. With Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard out, Toronto’s starting group still has two high-usage players in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, which can make it tougher for Walter to find a rhythm or show the scoring versatility that made him a top-10 high school recruit.
A second-unit role could give Walter a different kind of runway. Jamal Shead is the primary playmaker there, while the rest of the group is made up of off-ball players or finishers. That setup would give Walter more chances to create and score without fighting for touches in a crowded starting five.
Battle’s fit next to Barrett matters too. With Leonard and Barnes sidelined, Toronto needs shooters around Barrett so he has targets to drive and kick to.
Battle has been exactly that type of player, and his corner shooting has been especially valuable. According to Cleaning the Glass, he’s hitting 52 percent of his corner threes this season.
The Raptors need a rotation change, and with a Celtics team that leans hard into the three-ball coming up, swapping Battle into the starting lineup and Walter to the bench makes a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Former Raptor Gary Trent Jr. Is Suddenly At Center Of NBA Scrutiny
Gary Trent Jr. has found himself back in the spotlight for reasons that go well beyond his play on the floor. The former Raptors wing, now with the Milwaukee Bucks, is reportedly at the center of an NBA investigation into whether his four-year contract was used in a way that could amount to salary cap circumvention, a development that has put the deal under a microscope across the league.
For Toronto fans who watched Trent during his time with the Raptors, the scrutiny adds another strange chapter to a career that has already taken an unusual turn. The reported questions around the contract have only grown louder because of his declining performance and the way the deal progressed, and if the league determines something improper happened, the Bucks could be looking at serious penalties, including draft pick forfeitures and suspensions. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors May Have Found A Cheap Frontcourt Upgrade Worth Watching
Kyle Filipowski has started to look like the kind of frontcourt swing piece the Raptors tend to keep an eye on when theyre hunting for value. The Jazz big man has seen his playing time climb lately, and the appeal is obvious for Toronto: a young, affordable player with enough skill to potentially fit into a roster that is still sorting out its long-term shape up front.
For the Raptors, the attraction goes beyond just adding another body to the rotation. Filipowskis contract status makes him a realistic name to monitor, and his blend of size and versatility gives Toronto a possible cheap upgrade without having to chase a splashier move. The question now is whether Utah would actually entertain the kind of trade package Toronto could put together, and how far the Raptors would be willing to go to make the deal happen. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Weigh A Blockbuster Frontcourt Move As Kawhi Plans Return
Kawhi Leonard has finished treatment for the left knee swelling that had kept him on the shelf and is now beginning the return-to-play process with the Raptors, a welcome development for a team that has been waiting to see what its full frontcourt picture might look like. His progress comes at a time when Toronto is also being linked to a much larger roster idea, one that would reshape the middle of the lineup rather than simply tweak it.
Domantas Sabonis has emerged as a name to watch after recently changing agents, and the Raptors have expressed interest in the Sacramento Kings big man as they look for ways to strengthen the roster. No deal has been announced, but the possibility alone gives Toronto a lot to sort through, especially with Leonard working his way back and the front office weighing whether to stay patient or chase a bigger swing. [Read more 🡒]