The Toronto Raptors are still pushing ahead with their offseason work, even as the Kawhi Leonard situation has stalled. Reports say the NBA’s investigation into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers over possible salary-cap circumvention could stretch all the way to 2027, which leaves the Raptors waiting on a reunion that now looks increasingly unlikely.
So Toronto is taking a swing elsewhere.
According to reporting from NBA insider Keith Smith, the Raptors are bringing in ultra-athletic guard Andre Jackson Jr., a former Milwaukee Bucks second-round pick. Jackson was drafted in 2023 and showed some real momentum early on, appearing in 67 games during his sophomore season and starting 43 of them. Last year, though, his role shrank dramatically.
“The former (Milwaukee) Bucks second-round pick played in 48 games last season and averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 32.8% from the floor in 8.5 minutes per game,” wrote Siegel on X.
“Jackson has the athleticism and length needed for an NBA wing, but his shooting has been inconsistent.”
That inconsistency is part of the story. Jackson looked like he was on the rise, then got buried in the rotation behind Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Cole Anthony. Now he’s facing a similar climb if he lands with Toronto.
The Raptors already have a crowded group fighting for minutes, with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Gradey Dick all in the mix. If Jackson does get returned to Toronto, he’ll have to carve out a lane in that group.
Before any of that matters, he still has one job: show Darko Rajakovic enough in training camp to earn a roster spot.
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The chatter around a possible Kawhi Leonard reunion has put Toronto back in a familiar kind of spotlight, the sort that immediately makes fans remember how quickly the franchise can change when a true difference-maker is involved. Leonards potential impact on the Raptors is easy to see, which is why the buzz around his return has picked up so much attention around the team and beyond.
What makes the situation especially intriguing is that the framework already includes a steep price for Toronto to pay if it goes through. Jeremy Lin has voiced support for the move and is hoping the league signs off soon, but until then the Raptors are left waiting on a rare chance to bring back a player whose presence would reshape the roster in a major way. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Jackson Jr Brings One Big Question To The Raptors
Andre Jackson Jr. is getting a fresh look in Toronto after the Raptors added the former second-round pick on an Exhibit 10 contract. The defensive-minded wing spent three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his calling card has long been his work on that end of the floor, where energy and versatility can still earn a player a real chance even if the offensive profile is thinner than teams usually prefer.
For the Raptors, the appeal is obvious enough: Jackson is the kind of low-cost, low-risk camp body who can compete for a spot and, if needed, keep developing with Raptors 905. The question hanging over the move is the same one that has followed him since Milwaukee - whether his defense can carry enough weight to offset the limitations on offense and give him a path onto a regular-season roster. [Read more 🡒]