The Toronto Raptors do have pieces other teams would want if Toronto ever decides to make a deal. Not every asset is on the table, but the franchise has enough flexibility to work with players, picks, and contracts if the right opportunity shows up.
At the top of the list is Toronto’s own first-round pick in 2029. The Raptors still control five of their own first-rounders from 2027 through 2033, and 2029 is the earliest one that can be moved and is fully under their control.
It gives Toronto a future chip it can save for a bigger swing later, whether that comes at the trade deadline or in the offseason. The 2031 and 2033 picks are already part of the proposal going to the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, in a deal that has not been finalized yet.
The 2029 pick stands out even more because the Raptors can trade it while the 2030 and 2032 selections are off limits because of the Stepien rule. That makes it one of the more valuable future assets Toronto has in its hands, and also one it may want to protect unless a strong deal lands in front of them.
On the player side, Ja’Kobe Walter is the kind of movable piece teams can plug into larger negotiations. He’s 22 and heading into his third NBA season after showing noticeable growth from year one to year two.
His contract is also manageable, with just over $3.8 million due in 2026-27 and $5.8 million in 2027-28. Toronto probably wouldn’t get much back for Walter on his own, but he becomes more interesting as part of a package.
Even so, the Raptors are expected to keep him around because he should be worth more than what they’re paying him over the next few seasons.
RJ Barrett is another name that could come up in trade conversations. He’s on an expiring contract, which immediately makes him relevant for any major deal between now and next summer.
Barrett is set to make $29.6 million this season, and his next contract could come with a slight raise. At 26, he should be moving into the prime years of his career, which puts Toronto in a clear decision spot: keep investing in him as a player or use his contract and age to upgrade somewhere else.
With Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard expected to lead the team going forward, Barrett may not be needed as the third wing. How he plays this season will go a long way toward shaping how long he stays in Toronto.
Then there’s Collin Murray-Boyles, the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, who looks more like a keep than a trade chip. Toronto is hoping he ends up as the last lottery pick the franchise takes for a long time.
He got off to a strong start in the NBA as a two-way contributor, then took another step in the playoffs by averaging 14.4 points per game in a seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unless an offer comes along that completely changes the direction of the franchise - the kind of package that would only be associated with someone like Nikola Jokic - Murray-Boyles is expected to stay put in Toronto.
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 🡒]