The Toronto Raptors still have one roster spot to sort out, and the Kawhi Leonard situation hangs over everything. If that reunion never materializes, Toronto would keep Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in place, while Kyle Anderson would remain the club’s biggest offseason addition so far.
Even with Leonard’s future unresolved, the Raptors are not short on possible ways to finish the job. They’re sitting just under the first apron with $2.4M available, and there are a few familiar names who could fit if Toronto decides to circle back to the past.
One option is Ochai Agbaji, who was with the Raptors earlier this calendar year before being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets for a 2032 second-round pick. Brooklyn declined to make an offer to Agbaji, which moved him from restricted free agency to unrestricted free agency. That opens the door for Toronto to bring back a player who started 13 games for them last season at the veteran minimum.
Chris Boucher is another possibility. He spent almost his entire NBA career in Toronto before signing with the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2025-26 season.
That move didn’t stick, though, because he was later traded to the Utah Jazz and waived. No team has signed him yet, which keeps the door open for a Raptors reunion with a member of the 2018-19 championship team.
Then there’s Kelly Olynyk, who didn’t have nearly the same run in Toronto as Boucher or Agbaji. He played 52 games across two seasons with the Raptors, but his fit could matter now more than ever. With Sandro Mamukelashvili leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, Toronto could use someone who can handle that bench role.
The Raptors have already added Kyle Anderson and Allen Graves to the frontcourt, but neither really replaces what Mamukelashvili brought. Olynyk’s value is straightforward: a big man who can rebound and stretch the floor when needed. He also brings playoff experience after being part of a Spurs team that was just in the NBA Finals.
Leonard remains the dream outcome, but that call belongs to the NBA’s investigation. Whether the trade happens or not, Toronto looks set to enter the season with a strong roster after what many viewed as a surprisingly good year. If the Raptors do choose to bring back one of these three, it would be another practical move to round out the group.
In Other News...
Raptors Close Summer League With Another Loss And More Tough Evaluations
The Raptors Summer League run ended the way too many of these July evaluations do, with another loss and a reminder that the margins are thin. Denver beat Toronto 96-89 in the finale behind a balanced attack that put five Nuggets in double figures, while Toronto leaned on Nimari Burnett, who led the way with 15 points and nine rebounds, and got encouraging interior work from Aziz Bandaogo and Jamarion Sharp.
The late push at least gave the Raptors something to review after they trimmed the deficit in the final minute and briefly made it interesting. But Jahmius Ramseys perfect shooting night for Denver, along with Mark Sears playmaking, left Toronto with one more tough film session and a final look at which young pieces can carry their flashes into the next stage. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors' LeBron Chase Just Put A Huge Plan B In Focus
DeMar DeRozan is back in the conversation after being waived, and the market around the six-time All-Star is starting to take shape. Golden State is among the teams weighing him as a possible fallback if its bigger swing for LeBron James does not come together, a reminder that even at this stage of free agency, one star chase can ripple across the rest of the league.
Toronto is one of the other teams mentioned as a possible landing spot, alongside Detroit, the Lakers and Portland, which keeps DeRozan tied to a familiar set of suitors. For the Raptors, the interest is at least notable given his history with the franchise, but the real question is whether the market settles quickly or turns into a waiting game built around where the bigger names land first. [Read more 🡒]
