Samson Folk is joined by Shamit Dua to breakdown his piece on reclamation projects in the NBA.

Find Shamit’s piece here:

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From Mikail’s piece:

Jeremy Lin believes Kawhi Leonard could change things again in Toronto

Jeremy Lin was part of the 2018-19 championship team and believes Kawhi Leonard’s presence goes beyond just putting up numbers. Lin says Leonard makes the game easier for everyone around him and could once again make the Raptors a difficult playoff matchup.

“I think with a Kawhi, I think they’re the dark horse,” Lin said.

Lin stopped short of calling Toronto a favourite in the East, but believes the Raptors would be one of the teams nobody wants to see come playoff time.

Raptors reportedly came close to landing Domantas Sabonis

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Toronto and Sacramento had serious discussions before the trade deadline on a deal that would have sent the All-Star centre to the Raptors, with RJ Barrett reportedly included in the package.

The deal never got done because Toronto couldn’t find a way to move Jakob Poeltl’s contract. Sabonis would have given the Raptors another elite rebounder and one of the NBA’s best passing big men.

Raptors bring in Andre Jackson Jr.

Toronto signed former UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr. to an Exhibit-10 contract. The 6-foot-6 guard spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in 48 games.

Jackson will have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp and could earn extra incentive money if he joins Raptors 905.

Trey Jemison joins Raptors on two-way deal

Toronto added more size to its roster by signing centre Trey Jemison to a two-way contract.

The 6-foot-10 big man has played for five NBA teams over the last three seasons, including the Wizards, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers and Knicks.”

Have a blessed day.

The post How the NBA finds diamonds in the rough first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Is Collin Murray-Boyles who he was in the playoffs or the regular season?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Is Collin Murray-Boyles who he was in the playoffs or the regular season? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Tempo Skid Continues Despite SPIRITED Rally vs. Fire | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Ultimately, it was the Portland Fire that snapped their five-game losing streak, extending the Toronto Tempo’s to eight, and it wasn’t particularly close. The Tempo kept sliding as they lost the one game on this stretch of schedule that looked winnable 97-83.

Fire guard Carla Leite shredded the Tempo defence with her shifty dribble, pinpoint passing, and pull-up shooting. She finished with 27 points on 12 shots and 11 assists.

Bearing in mind the road-heavy gauntlet the Tempo are facing right now, this was a must-have game. They had played 11 straight games against teams above .500 ahead of Thursday, and are 1-17 against winning teams. Many of these were against the elite of the league – the Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, Atlanta Dream, and Minnesota Lynx — and their next three games go Dream, Wings, Indiana Fever.

Marina Mabrey went without a made 3 against the Valkyries on Tuesday, and made sure it didn’t happen again, ripping a quick-trigger triple directly off the catch — and well behind the line — for the Tempo’s first points. Then she came off a Zoom action and banged another on the move. Mabrey was questionable with the neck issue that’s plagued her of late but appeared to be firing on all cylinders out of the gate. That was until she took a hit to the head, appeared to be shaken up, and didn’t make another basket until a few minutes into the second half. Those were the only nine points Mabrey scored in the game.

But the Tempo fought back with their own physicality. Aneesah Morrow missed a hook shot but grabbed her own board and deposited the putback. Izzy Harrison ducked into the paint and made an aggressive hook shot for an and-1. Then she drew free throws on the next possession with an early seal. Morrow mixed in a little finesse too, driving into the crowded paint and making a live-dribble read to Kia Nurse for a corner 3. Woah.

But Leite went to work, stepping into a pull-up triple and dicing up the Tempo defence by changing speeds, finding openings and taking advantage. It was an impressive display from the lead guard.

The first two picks in the expansion draft, Canadian Bridget Carleton and Tempo guard Julie Allemand, exchanged layups. The score was near even, 34-31 Portland, and Toronto was plus-four on the glass. But Frieda Buhner and the Fire caught, ahem, fire from 3, and Leite kept boogying on the Tempo defence. Meanwhile, Toronto’s touch around the rim just wasn’t there as some solid offensive process led to layups that didn’t go down. It was a 17-6 run for Portland over the back half of the second quarter and the Tempo were down 51-37.

These periodic lapses have become all too familiar for the Tempo, and it only continued as Portland kept raining 3s out of the half and scored another seven straight points.

To my eye, one big issue on offence is the Tempo’s tendency to hold the ball for too long and survey, allowing defenders to recover. Sandy Brondello’s offence is built on point-five principles. Meaning make quick decisions, and ideally as soon as they get a small advantage — a step on a defender, a mismatch, an open teammate — it gets turned into a larger one. Too often Allemand receives the ball after the initial action and slows down, letting the opposing defence reset. Mabrey gets trapped off ball screens, and the pass comes out too late.

But their defence is a bigger problem, ranked last in the W in defensive rating, and that’s more complicated. Missing their best defender in Brittney Sykes and lacking a staunch rim-protector is undoubtedly the starting point of their troubles, but it goes beyond that. Toronto has a tendency to pressure, allow blow-bys, overhelp, and eventually leave opponents with too good a look. Brondello has spoken about this.

“You know, we might play well, and that’s why I say to the girls, we may play well for 15 seconds, but then we overhelp, and then we get in rotation, so we’re not very good,” Brondello said out of the all-star break.

“And that’s our biggest area (of focus), like the one-on-one defence on closeouts, and then finishing plays, and having failed discipline.”

The breakdowns weren’t always early in the clock, though, as the Tempo defence was easily manipulated to helping out of the strong side, and Nyadiew Puoch was left wide open on a backdoor cut. That made the score 89-66 in the final frame.

The deficit seemed all but insurmountable. But the Tempo gave it a run anyway. Through all their struggles on this extended skid, they’ve maintained their fight. Even though Allemand kills advantages at times, she is also able to orchestrate and put teammates in good spots. She did for Nyara Sabally on a three and then with a pocket pass for a roll to the rim. There’s more than one way to play offence.

Sabally finished with a team-high 17 points, and Allemand had an 11-point, 12-assist double-double.

Allemand kept dishing to teammates: Morrow on a cut, Juskaite on a drive, and splashed a deep 3 of her own. Morrow grabbed an offensive rebound for yet another putback. Then grabbed a steal. It was exactly the kind of scrappy play the Tempo acquired her for. But it wasn’t enough. It turned out a 23-point fourth-quarter lead was insurmountable. The Tempo have now lost 12 of their last 13, and the Dream are up next on Monday.

The post Tempo fall to fellow expansion Fire for eighth straight loss first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Jeremy Lin believes Kawhi Leonard could change things again in Toronto

Jeremy Lin was part of the 2018-19 championship team and believes Kawhi Leonard’s presence goes beyond just putting up numbers. Lin says Leonard makes the game easier for everyone around him and could once again make the Raptors a difficult playoff matchup.

“I think with a Kawhi, I think they’re the dark horse,” Lin said.

Lin stopped short of calling Toronto a favourite in the East, but believes the Raptors would be one of the teams nobody wants to see come playoff time.

Raptors reportedly came close to landing Domantas Sabonis

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Toronto and Sacramento had serious discussions before the trade deadline on a deal that would have sent the All-Star centre to the Raptors, with RJ Barrett reportedly included in the package.

The deal never got done because Toronto couldn’t find a way to move Jakob Poeltl’s contract. Sabonis would have given the Raptors another elite rebounder and one of the NBA’s best passing big men.

Raptors bring in Andre Jackson Jr.

Toronto signed former UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr. to an Exhibit-10 contract. The 6-foot-6 guard spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in 48 games.

Jackson will have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp and could earn extra incentive money if he joins Raptors 905.

Trey Jemison joins Raptors on two-way deal

Toronto added more size to its roster by signing centre Trey Jemison to a two-way contract.

The 6-foot-10 big man has played for five NBA teams over the last three seasons, including the Wizards, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers and Knicks.

Jemison fills the Raptors’ final two-way roster spot heading into the 2026-27 season.

Raptors announce preseason schedule

The Raps now know what their road back to the regular season will look like.

Toronto announced its preseason schedule, which includes training camp in Quebec City at Université Laval’s PEPS athletic complex.

The Raptors will play five preseason games, including matchups against the Heat, Clippers, Knicks and Pistons. Toronto will also host NBA Canada games in Quebec City, Vancouver and Toronto.

The post Raptors Weekly Wrap-Up: Raptors land Andre Jackson jr., Sabonis rumours, more first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Is Allen Graves’ offence for real? 

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Is Allen Graves’ offence for real?  first appeared on Raptors Republic.

When Leonard arrived in Toronto during the 2018-19 season, the Raptors were already a good team. However, they needed someone who could take over when the games mattered most. Leonard did exactly that, leading Toronto to its first NBA championship.

Now, with the Raptors trying to bring Leonard back, Lin believes the same type of change could happen again.

Lin was part of that championship group and saw how much Leonard’s presence changed the team. “He makes everybody’s lives easier,” Lin said. “Because Kawhi is on the floor, everyone else’s shots will be easier. Everyone will get cleaner looks. Everyone’s drives to the basket will be easy.”

The Raptors’ pursuit of Leonard is currently on hold while the NBA investigates allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap through an endorsement arrangement involving Leonard and the now-bankrupt company Aspiration.

Lin said he has no information on how the investigation will play out, but he hopes everything gets cleared up. “I hope it happens. I hope it’s all clear with the investigation,” Lin said. “Him ending his career in Toronto would be the best ending for him.”

Lin believes Toronto would become the type of team nobody wants to deal with in the playoffs.“I think with a Kawhi, I think they’re the dark horse,” Lin said. “Miami and Toronto are kind of two teams I don’t really want to see in the playoffs,” he added. “They could do anything. They could go very far.”

Lin’s confidence comes from what he saw during Toronto’s title run. “He can single-handedly win you games,” Lin said. “He can single-handedly defend and stop the other team’s best players.”

The post Jeremy Lin believes Kawhi Leonard could spark another Raptors run first appeared on Raptors Republic.

According to ESPN‘s Anthony Slater, Toronto and the Sacramento Kings were deep in talks before February’s trade deadline on a deal that would’ve sent the All-Star centre north of the border.

The framework of the trade reportedly included RJ Barrett, but there was one major problem. Slater reported that “the Kings nearly traded Sabonis to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline in February — a move he would’ve welcomed, a source with knowledge of the situation said — for a package that included RJ Barrett, but the Raptors were unable to get off the three-year, $84 million remaining on Jakob Poeltl’s contract, which doomed the deal.”

At the time, moving Poeltl’s contract was easier said than done. Poeltl was dealing with a back injury, and his value had taken a hit after an extremely underwhelming season. Poeltl averaged just 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 46 games.

His rebounding numbers, in particular, were well below expectations for a starting centre, recording double-digit rebounds in just nine of the 46 games he laced up.

If the Raps were able to pull off the deal, Sabonis would’ve given Toronto a completely different look in the frontcourt. Before knee injuries limited him to just 19 games last season, he led the NBA in rebounds in each of the previous three seasons. He is also one of the league’s best passing big men and has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most consistent double-double threats.

As of right now, it appears Sabonis’ name is off the trade-block, and he isn’t going anywhere. Slater reported the three-time All Star has recommitted to Sacramento and is ready to move forward with the Kings.

The trade never crossed the finish line, but Slater’s report shows the Raptors were willing to swing big in their search for another star. Of course, they ended up doing just that this offseason. It seems like the Raptors front office feels like this team is close to where it needs to be.

The post Jakob Poeltl contract reportedly doomed Raptors’ Sabonis trade first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk & Trevon Heath detail the latest with the Raptors.

From Ian’s piece:

“It’s possible the Toronto Raptors’ trade for Kawhi Leonard doesn’t go through before the start of the upcoming season.

The NBA investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Leonard could last into 2027 if the parties disagree on findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported on Wednesday.

According to Holmes’ report, the NBPA wouldn’t hesitate to take the matter to arbitration if the NBA sought penalties without sufficient evidence proving the claim.

The Clippers have vehemently denied any wrongdoing since the initial reporting from Pablo Torre sparked the league’s inquiry nearly 11 months ago.

The Raptors agreed to acquire Leonard on June 30, in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, second-round picks in 2030 and 2033, and a first-round pick swap in 2027. However, the Raptors and Clippers later decided to delay the trade until the investigation is complete.

“Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors said in a statement.

“In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete. The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”

The Clippers have said that they’re “fully” cooperative with the investigation, “participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.”

“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison,” the Clippers said in a statement.”

Have a blessed day.

The post Is the Raptors offseason heating up or falling apart? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The goal is to look at the team through the big picture of goals, lineups, health, and more, while also conceptualizing its upcoming season through the questions and intentions informing each individual player. This series isn’t about providing answers; those will be theorized in our season previews, as of course actually become certain when the season begins. And I would love if you could help me out and start theorizing answers to the questions here in the comment section. Consider this series to also be a series of open threads to give everyone a chance to hang out and chat Raptors. 

In many ways, the answers to these questions will determine the Raptors’ upcoming season. Toronto is ending its rebuild and launching on a new era. Toronto’s performance in the playoffs — and the performances of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in particular — proved that the team is full of players whose games are built for the crucible of the playoffs. Thus, the team decided to cut bait on its slow, steady progress forward and leap into contention. Or, theoretical contention. 

The answers to these 31 questions will determine just how theoretical, or conversely how real, that contention is going to prove to be. You can find the full list of 31 questions (going backwards, not forwards) here. 

Today we’re asking: Who is going to drive to the rim other than RJ Barrett?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Who is going to drive to the rim other than RJ Barrett? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

I have long been a fan of Jackson jr. since his time at Connecticut. His abilities haven’t translated to the NBA in any meaningful sense, but there is real latent ability in his game.

Jackson jr. is one of the game’s fastest processors, and he has consistently ranked near the top of the lead in lowest average touch time for non-bigs. He makes immediate choices with the ball in his hands, and though his passing hasn’t entirely joined him in the NBA, making quick decisions is in itself an excellent form of creation. He’s a heady cutter and clever rebounder. All that combines in him being able, at points, to move the chains on offence in creative and asymmetrical ways that other players aren’t able to mirror.

The downsides of Jackson’s game are far from invisible. He had a rock-bottom usage rate in his first two seasons and just managed to scrape by on middling efficiency as a finisher. He avoided layups and hit enough triples — while generally only taking them while completely uncontested — to survive. But in 2025-26, his usage rose on a decimated Bucks squad, and his 3-point shot abandoned him. He was one of the least efficient scorers in the NBA despite still only taking relatively easy looks.

Though he had a strong steal rate defensively, he has never been a defensive stopper. All in all, the Bucks have been consistently worse with him on the floor than on the bench. His abilities are latent, in that they have not manifested in positive, helpful basketball at the NBA level.

He still could pop. I am a believer that in the right offensive environment — and Milwaukee has been a very difficult offence within which to play for non-stars and non-shooters — he could find his footing. He needs to sort out his ability to score. But he has skills and abilities that are rare in the NBA. His handle needs to tighten. His jumper needs great improvement. But he’s not yet 25 years old, and I would be happy to see him a Raptor.

Blake Murphy reports that his deal is an Exhibit-10 contract, which means he will be paid extra if he joins the Raptors 905 after training camp. But he will still have a real chance to compete for a roster spot if he succeeds in camp and preseason.

The post Toronto Raptors sign Andre Jackson jr., per report first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Aneesah Morrow DEBUTS For Tempo In Loss vs. Valkyries | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.