The Raptors didn’t just make a splash with Kawhi Leonard - they sent a message. And now that message is being answered.
Leonard is back in the conversation as a Toronto target, and this time the fit looks very different from the last time the franchise swung big for him. He’s reportedly thrilled about the idea of going to Toronto, and he even identified the Raptors as one of the few teams he would actually sign an extension with if the Clippers moved him this summer. At 35, that kind of interest says plenty about where he thinks the winning is.
DeMar DeRozan is sending a similar signal. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the six-time All-Star and former Raptors first-round pick would also welcome another run in Canada to finish out his career. After being waived by the Kings, DeRozan, now 36, stands as one of the top free agents on the market this summer.
That kind of pull matters. It says the Raptors have done more than collect young talent and hope for the best.
They’ve built enough credibility around Scottie Barnes and the rest of the group that veteran stars outside the organization can look at Toronto and see a place worth joining. That’s the real proof of progress: not just internal belief, but outside buy-in.
And there’s plenty for players to buy into.
The Raptors still have issues to sort through, with spacing, center depth and guard play all sitting near the top of the list. But they also have a legitimate young core, led by Barnes, who should have made All-NBA this year, plus Collin Murray-Boyles after a strong rookie season. Add in a defensive identity that already gives them a backbone, and the foundation is real.
That foundation showed up in the playoffs, where Toronto nearly took down the Cavaliers in the first round despite being without Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram. The return to the postseason wasn’t just a feel-good step forward; it was a chance to introduce themselves to a broader audience, and they made it count.
Barnes was the engine, putting up 24.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. RJ Barrett filled a major scoring gap while Ingram struggled and dealt with injury, finishing with 24.1 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Murray-Boyles also made his presence felt right away, posting 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
The Leonard move raises the stakes. It puts real pressure on Toronto to chase a title in the next few seasons, but it also lifts the ceiling in a major way. If Leonard is healthy, he can be the veteran co-star Barnes needs.
Just as important, the trade made the organization’s stance on Barnes unmistakable. They believe he’s ready for the next step. And the fact that other veteran stars with Toronto ties want in too only reinforces that belief.
The Raptors have made their point. Now the league is noticing.
In Other News...
Raptors Offseason Just Created A Scottie Barnes Problem Fans Know Too Well
Toronto spent the offseason reshaping its roster in a way that should help in the short term, but it also created the kind of crowded frontcourt picture that can make life tricky for Scottie Barnes. The additions of Allen Graves, Jaden Bradley and Kyle Anderson give the Raptors more size, more options and more flexibility, which is usually a good problem to have when a team is trying to climb back into contention.
Scottie Barnes is still the centerpiece, but the new mix around him means every rotation spot is under a little more pressure than before. With Toronto leaning into a deeper, more competitive roster, the challenge now is figuring out which pieces fit cleanly and which ones get squeezed as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
NBA Just Gave Pacers Fans Another Reason To Question The League
The NBAs latest enforcement push has put a familiar sore spot back in the spotlight, and it is one that Raptors fans know well from years of watching the league police team behavior unevenly. Indiana and Utah were both fined under the Player Participation Policy, with the Pacers and Jazz each cited for actions the league said crossed the line into conduct detrimental to the league, a reminder that the rules around rest and availability can still feel murky even when the penalties are not.
For Toronto, the broader issue is less about one specific fine than the pattern it reinforces. The league has long invited scrutiny whenever it decides to draw a hard line on roster management, and the conversation inevitably circles back to how selectively those lines seem to be enforced across markets and situations. The Pacers case adds another example to that pile, and it leaves plenty of room for the same old question about whether the NBA is applying the standard evenly. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Murray-Boyles Could Change Everything For The Raptors Frontcourt
The Raptors have spent the offseason trying to patch a frontcourt that lost one of its better shooting options when Sandro Mamukelashvili departed, and that makes the development of Collin Murray-Boyles especially important. Toronto already added Allen Graves, whose college 3-point numbers were encouraging, but the bigger swing for this group is whether Murray-Boyles can stretch his game enough to fit into a more modern, flexible rotation.
Coaches sound optimistic that he can keep expanding his range while bringing the versatility that already earned trust in high-leverage moments. If that progress shows up, it could change how Toronto builds around its bigs, especially with the frontcourt minutes likely to be shaped by both development and availability as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]