The Raptors will retire Kyle Lowry’s No. 7 jersey on Jan. 10 when they host his hometown Philadelphia 76ers, the team announced on Thursday.

Lowry fulfilled his promise by signing a one-day contract and retiring as a Raptor on July 7.

“I’ve been looking forward to this moment for years. I always said that Toronto is home, and that I’d retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that building is going to mean everything to me,” Lowry said in a statement released by the team. “We built something special here — my teammates, the organization, the city and the fans, and all of Canada. We became champions together, and to be able to share this night with all of them, and with my family, is going to mean a lot to me.”

The celebration will take place over three games, beginning with Lowry t-shirt and bobblehead giveaways on Jan. 7 and 8, respectively, before culminating in the jersey retirement ceremony. There will be “special programming and surprises planned throughout both nights” in the lead up.

Lowry led the Raptors through their greatest era of prosperity, including seven playoff appearances, two Eastern Conference Finals, and ultimately the 2019 NBA Championship. He is a six-time All-Star and the all-time franchise leader in assists, steals, 3-point field goals, triple-doubles, and, of course, charges drawn.

But Lowry’s impact extends far beyond the numbers into both intangible areas of the game and the city of Toronto itself. He helped Toronto believe in the Raptors.

Over the course of his nine-season tenure with the Raptors — starting on July 11th, 2012, when he was traded north of the border in exchange for Gary Forbes and a future first-round pick — Lowry, the city of Toronto, and its basketball fans would co-create an identity based on overcoming doubt and delivering far above expectations.

No one believed in either of them. So they wore that as a badge of honor on their chest. — from Es’s piece.

Lowry’s No. 7 will join Vince Carter’s No. 15 as the only two numbers retired by the organization.

The post Raptors to retire Lowry’s jersey on Jan. 10 against 76ers first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Collin Murray-Boyles has already made the hardest part of being a rookie look pretty easy. He came into the NBA with plenty of questions about his size, his offence and where exactly he would fit. By the end of his first season, he had answered most of them.

Now, the expectations are different. Murray-Boyles is no longer the ninth overall pick trying to prove he belongs. He is coming off a playoff run where he looked like one of Toronto’s most important players, and the Raptors will need more from him in Year 2.

As a rookie, Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, five rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 57 games while shooting 57.8 percent from the field. He also averaged nearly a steal and a block per game. The numbers were pretty good. Watching him play was even more impressive.

He has a way of making himself involved in almost every possession. He fights for rebounds, gets his hands into passing lanes, battles bigger players and is constantly moving around the floor. That was especially noticeable on defence.

There were legitimate questions about whether Murray-Boyles would be able to defend NBA centres at just 6-foot-8. With a lack of centre depth on the squad and Jakob Poeltl going down last season, Toronto had no choice but to ask him to do exactly that. Well, he handled it with flying colours.

He was strong enough to battle with bigger players while still being mobile enough to switch onto guards and wings. That gave Darko Rajakovic a player he could move around the floor depending on what the matchup called for. Luckily, Murray-Boyles seemed to enjoy the challenge.

His hands became one of his biggest weapons. Raptors fans quickly gave him the “Magneto” nickname because of how often he seemed to come up with a steal or deflection. He finished his rookie season averaging 1.9 steals and blocks combined per game, which ranked third among rookies.

His hands were not only impressive on the defensive end of the floor. Murray-Boyles showed enough as a passer last season to make you think there is something bigger there. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has good vision for a player his size. He can find cutters, make quick reads and pass out of traffic.

Toronto should look to lean into that more this season. Instead of treating him like a traditional big who screens, rebounds and finishes around the basket, the Raptors can give him opportunities to make decisions.

His ability to play alongside Scottie Barnes makes that even more interesting. Both players can handle the ball. Both can defend multiple positions. Both are at their best when they are allowed to make reads instead of being locked into one position. If Murray-Boyles becomes more comfortable offensively, Toronto can start building some creative lineups around the two of them.

If there is something he needs to develop more, like Barnes, it’s becoming a better three-point threat. Murray-Boyles shot 34 percent from deep last season, but he was not exactly letting them fly. He averaged just 0.9 attempts from beyond the arc per game.  That is something he will need to change.

He needs to become confident enough that defenders cannot completely ignore him. If he starts taking those open threes without hesitation, it could change the way teams defend him, because once his defender decides to close out, he has the tools to attack.

If you thought CMB’s rookie regular-season was impressive. His playoffs were something else. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists while continuing to make plays defensively.

He had 22 points in Game 3, setting a Raptors rookie playoff record, followed by a 15-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 4. In Game 6, he finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five combined steals and blocks.

Those games mattered because Toronto wasn’t just playing him to give a rookie playoff experience. He was actually contributing to winning basketball. In fact, he was a major reason why the series was forced to go to seven games.

In that playoff series, he also became a legitimate option around the basket. Murray-Boyles shot 73.8 percent in the restricted area during the series, and he looked much more comfortable creating his own offence. That is the version of Murray-Boyles the Raptors will want to see more often this season.

The expectations are higher now. There is no hiding from that. Murray-Boyles has already shown that he can be a very good defender. He has already shown that he can handle centre minutes despite being undersized. He has already shown that he can make an impact in the playoffs. Now Toronto needs him to put it all together.

Murray-Boyles dealt with multiple thumb injuries last season, yet he still managed to finish the season strong. Now imagine if he can stay healthy over a full season. After everything Murray-Boyles showed as a rookie, it is clear that the next step is going to be a fun one to watch.

The post Can Collin Murray-Boyles take the next step to stardom for Raptors? 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: How good will the defence be with Leonard, Barnes, and Murray-Boyles on the floor?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: How good will the defence be with Leonard, Barnes, and Murray-Boyles on the floor? first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The post Kiki Rice And Flau’jae Johnson DUEL as Tempo Fall to Storm | Full Game Recap + Analysis first appeared on Raptors Republic.

The first-year guard aggressively drove the rim, swished pull-ups and even did dirty work on the glass en route to a career-high 24 points in a 90-78 loss to the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena.

It was the rookie show, and Rice took centre stage. The 22-year-old guard had an absurd sequence where she worked for an and-1 putback, drilled a pull-up 3, then attacked a closeout for a clean left-handed layup. It was eight points in 43 seconds for Rice.

Fellow 2026 first-rounder Flau’jae Johnson pushed back, banging a 3 to give the Storm a one-point lead and force a Tempo timeout late in the second quarter. Johnson entered play third in rookie scoring with 13.8 points per game, with Rice fourth at 12. But Rice outclassed her fellow first-year guard.

She attacked a closeout with a shifty stutter rip, drove, drew the big, and made a lay-down pass to Teonni Key for an open layup. I wrote about playmaking teammates to the rim being Rice’s next step as point guard, and she took it on Wednesday night. Rice had 14 points in the first half, culminating in an underhanded scoop layup through traffic high off the glass.

Later Rice beat her defender with another crafty in-and-out dribble and found Temi Fagbenle for a quality look at the rim. But the game stayed tight throughout as Seattle was buoyed by Johnson’s scoring. She led the Storm with 20 points on 15 shots.

Still, Rice was superlative, needing only 12 shots for her game-high 24 while adding five assists with just one turnover. She had scored her previous career high of 19 points four times this season before finally hitting 20.

The Tempo played grimy hoops in the first quarter. They led 7-2 in offensive rebounds but somehow trailed 5-3 in second-chance points. Toronto also shot 1-for-12 (or 8.3%) from 3. Jade Melbourne diced up the Tempo with seven early points, punctuated by a deep 3 and a layup with some English off the glass. But Kiki Rice hit ahead to Laura Juskaite off the Melbourne 3 for a quick make, then the Lithuanian forward canned a triple the next trip down.

Toronto’s frontcourt kept the game within arm’s reach as Isabelle Harrison banged down low for a post-up bucket and her and Juskaite drove hard for layups. The duo had nine points apiece at half, with Harrison grabbing eight boards and Juskaite adding four.

Toronto struggled to take care of the ball, committing 14 turnovers by the start of the fourth. It came to a head as Kiana Williams made an ill-advised pass and Awa Fam knocked down a triple going the other way amid a four-minute stretch without a field goal for the Tempo. The Tempo recently signed Williams to a seven-day extreme hardship contract that was granted by the WNBA after it was announced that Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow would miss the rest of the season.

The Tempo were also plus-seven on the glass and plus-four in points in the paint entering the final frame. Harrison was particularly forceful battling with six-foot-six centre Dominique Malonga, grabbing a career-high 14 boards. She also had 17 points, albeit on 5-for-16 shooting.

The Zia Cooke-Melbourne backcourt shredded Toronto late, getting to the hoop at will and creating quality looks for teammates. And Johnson had the last laugh in the rookie duel, dropping in a deep 2 from the corner and blowing a kiss to the home crowd in the final minute.

Meanwhile, the Tempo saw changes to the availability of their European contingent as Maria Conde returned to action after missing five games with a calf injury, but Julie Allemand’s contract was suspended while she joins Belgium for the FIBA World Cup.

Their road trip continues with a back-to-back against the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury on Friday and Saturday.

The post Kiki Rice scores career high, but Tempo unable to stop Storm surge first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Allen Graves has already given Raptors fans a reason to be curious about what comes next. The 19th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is also walking into Toronto with some pretty high expectations, and he has Collin Murray-Boyles to thank for that.

Murray-Boyles came into last season as a rookie with plenty to prove and ended up becoming one of the Raptors’ biggest surprises, especially once the playoffs rolled around. Now, Graves gets his own chance to make an impact.

He did not exactly ease into Summer League, which in this case is a great sign. Graves looked comfortable right away, played with plenty of energy and showed off a little bit of everything. Now comes the much bigger test. Summer League is one thing. Going up against NBA players every night is another.

However, if Graves can carry some of what he showed this summer into the regular season, Toronto could have a rookie who finds his way into the rotation sooner rather than later.

Graves finished Summer League averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, three assists and 2.3 steals per game. He also knocked down 50 per cent of his three-point attempts on 5.5 tries per game.

He wasted no time setting the tone in his first Summer League game. He dropped 22 points and 13 rebounds while adding three steals and two blocks. It was the kind of performance that showed why Toronto was willing to take a chance on him in the first round.

The scoring was nice, but the way he affected the game without needing the ball every possession was probably more encouraging. 

He gets his hands into passing lanes, competes for rebounds and seems to have a pretty good idea of where the ball is going before it gets there. He also has the size to make things uncomfortable for opponents once he gets into position. That could be his quickest path to NBA minutes.

Rookies are not always going to shoot well, and there will inevitably be nights when Graves looks like a rookie. But if he can consistently defend, rebound and make plays without needing the offence built around him, Toronto has a reason to keep him on the floor.

That is especially important for a Raptors team that has made versatility a pretty big part of its identity. Graves stands 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, giving Toronto another big body who can move around the floor and take on different assignments.

He also has a handle to his game. This is where Graves gets a little more interesting. Believe it or not, Graves was not always a forward. In fact, he grew up playing point guard before a growth spurt pushed him further up the lineup. By his junior year of high school, he was putting up 20 points and 15 rebounds per game as a forward.

That history could give Toronto something to work with. The Raptors have already experimented with Scottie Barnes as a bigger ball-handler, and Graves could eventually offer another option for those kinds of lineups.

Having a forward who is comfortable putting the ball on the floor and making a play is valuable. If that part of his game continues to develop, his role could become much bigger than simply being a defensive-minded forward.

Graves will most likely have to compete with Jamison Battle for minutes at forward. Battle brings something Graves will have to prove he can match: reliable shooting.

Shooting 50 percent from three in Summer League is obviously not enough to declare Graves a knockdown shooter. It is, however, something worth keeping an eye on.

If he can shoot well enough that defenders have to stay attached to him, it makes everything else easier. He can attack a closeout, put the ball on the floor or simply keep the possession moving.

If the shot is not falling, Toronto will need him to find other ways to contribute. Luckily, he has plenty of those. His rebounding, defence and willingness to do the dirty work give him a pretty clear foundation. The offence can come along as he gets more comfortable.

The biggest mistake would be expecting Graves to immediately repeat what Murray-Boyles did as a rookie. Murray-Boyles raised the bar for what Raptors fans can expect from a young player after making a much bigger impact than many expected, particularly in the playoffs. Graves should not have to match that.

Toronto did not draft Graves 19th overall expecting a finished product. The appeal is what he could become. For now, Raptors fans should probably keep their expectations in check.

However, I will admit that after what he showed in Summer League, it is hard not to be at least a little curious about what Allen Graves looks like when the games start counting.

The post Can Allen Graves translate Summer League stardom to a role for Raptors? 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: Can Scottie Barnes be the playoff version of himself for a full season? 

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Can Scottie Barnes be the playoff version of himself for a full season?  first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk & Caitlin Cooper breakdown the Raptors unique approach to defending + talk about the team at large afterwards.

Find Caitlin’s patreon here.

Raptors wrap up:

“Raptors’ schedule gets officially released

The NBA unveiled the complete 2026-27 schedule for all 30 teams, giving Raptors fans plenty to circle on the calendar.

Toronto will open its season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21, kicking off a new campaign at Scotiabank Arena.

If you are interested in taking a look at some other games worth keeping an eye out for, check this out: 10 Raptors games to circle on the 2026-27 NBA schedule

Chomche takes his talents overseas

Ulrich Chomche’s next stop will be outside the NBA. The 20-year-old centre has signed with BC Balkan Botevgrad in Bulgaria, with the club announcing the move ahead of its upcoming BKT EuroCup campaign.

Toronto selected the 6-foot-11 Cameroonian 57th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft after acquiring the pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent one season within the Raptors organization.

He made history as the youngest player in his draft class and became the first NBA draft selection to come through both the Basketball Africa League and NBA Academy Africa.

NBA investigation into Kawhi Situation moves forward

The NBA’s investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard continues to move toward a resolution.

According to an ESPN report by Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne, the league has not found evidence that Ballmer routed money through Clippers sponsors to Leonard in an attempt to get around the NBA’s salary cap.

The two sides are still working toward a conclusion to the investigation. Ballmer, according to ESPN, has told people close to him that he would not accept a league ruling suggesting he or the Clippers deliberately attempted to circumvent the salary cap and would instead take the matter to arbitration.

The situation remains unresolved as the league works toward its final determination.

Raptors add Malachi Smith

Toronto has added another young guard to its roster, agreeing to a deal with second-year player Malachi Smith.

Smith appeared in 15 games as a rookie, averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. He also shot 43.5 per cent from three-point range on 3.1 attempts per game.

His production was even more notable in the G League. Across 39 games, Smith averaged 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 42.2 per cent from beyond the arc.”

Have a blessed day.

The post How the Raptors built an elite & unique defense w/ Caitlin Cooper first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Barnes is already the face of the Raptors organization. He is a two-time All-Star, a former Rookie of the Year and one of the most versatile players in the entire NBA. However, heading into the 2026-27 season, Toronto needs to find out if he can become more than just the team’s best all-around player.

The question is no longer whether Barnes can become a star. He already is one. Now, the Raptors need to find out if he can become the kind of player who can carry them when the games get bigger, and the expectations get higher.

“Can he be the guy?” That is the biggest question surrounding Barnes this season.

Last season was not necessarily his best offensive season. His scoring average dropped from 19.3 points per game to 18.1, after averaging 19.9 the year before. But looking at his scoring numbers alone would be selling his season short.

Barnes was a problem for opposing teams on defence. He finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and became the only player in the NBA to record at least 100 steals and 100 blocks, finishing with 116 and 114, respectively. For a 6-foot-7 forward who is also handling a major chunk of the offence, that is pretty wild.

Those numbers weren’t just about stuffing the stat sheet. Barnes can switch onto guards, battle bigger players in the paint and make life difficult pretty much anywhere on the floor. He also led the NBA with nine clutch blocks, coming up with those plays in the final five minutes of games when the score was within five points. That is exactly the kind of thing Toronto will want to see again.

The Raptors made a massive jump defensively last season, finishing fifth in defensive rating after ranking 17th and 25th in the previous two seasons. Barnes was at the centre of that turnaround. Toronto was 4.3 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him on the court, and he was a regular in the team’s best defensive combinations.

So, what does that mean for 2026-27? The defence is probably not where Barnes needs to make his biggest jump. What he does with the ball could determine how high his ceiling really is. Barnes showed a glimpse of that during Toronto’s playoff series against Cleveland.

He averaged 24.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 8.6 assists over seven games, along with 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks. More importantly, he looked comfortable taking on a much bigger offensive role.

When Toronto needed something to happen, Barnes was not afraid to make it happen himself. That version of Barnes is what makes the upcoming season so intriguing.

His playoff performance was enough for The Athletic’s NBA Daily to rank him 15th among its top 30 players heading into the season. That puts a pretty big target on his back, but it also shows how much his expectations have changed.

Now, the three-point line becomes the interesting part. Barnes shot 38.1 percent from three during the playoffs, but that came over only seven games. Over the regular season, he shot 30.4 percent on 2.8 attempts per game, which was right around his 30.1 percent career mark.

He does not need to turn into a volume shooter. He needs opposing teams to think twice before leaving him alone. If Barnes can get into the mid-to-high 30s from three, it would make his drives much more dangerous. Defenders would have to close out instead of waiting for him to attack, and that could create more opportunities for him to get downhill or make plays for teammates.

That is where Barnes can really start to become a nightmare matchup. He was already highly efficient in other areas last season, shooting 69.4 percent around the rim, 45.7 percent in the paint and 44.6 percent from mid-range. The shot from outside could be the piece that ties it all together.

His playmaking is also a factor. Barnes averaged 5.9 assists last season and has averaged around six assists in each of the past three seasons. He has never been a traditional forward who waits for someone else to bring him the ball. He is comfortable initiating the offence and making decisions with it in his hands.

Toronto got an extended look at that when Immanuel Quickley missed time last season, and Barnes took on more point guard responsibilities. Expect even more of those opportunities to continue.

The challenge will be knowing when to pass and when to put his head down and go get a bucket. Barnes is naturally unselfish, which is part of what makes him so good. However, there will be nights when the Raptors do not need another pass. They need Barnes to take the shot. That is the part of his game that could separate a very good Barnes season from a special one.

He enters 2026-27 with plenty already on his résumé. Barnes made his second All-Star team last season, hit a game-winning three during the All-Star Game, became the first Raptor to win Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honours multiple times.

He also joined OG Anunoby and Kawhi Leonard as the only Raptors to earn a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team. No player in franchise history has made the First Team. But individual awards won’t be the measuring stick anymore.

Toronto knows Barnes can fill up a stat sheet. It knows he can defend. It knows he can run an offence and make plays that most players his size simply cannot. Now the Raptors need to see whether all of that can translate into winning at the highest level. And help could be on the way.

If the Kawhi Leonard deal gets finalized, Barnes would have another elite two-way player beside him. Leonard would give Toronto another player who can take on a difficult defensive assignment while also carrying part of the scoring load.

For Barnes, that could mean fewer possessions where he has to do everything himself and more opportunities to pick his spots. It could also give him a front-row seat to one of the league’s most accomplished playoff performers.

If, sadly, the deal falls apart and Leonard is not on the roster come the start of the next season, the expectation for Barnes is still changing regardless. Toronto is no longer waiting for him to become the franchise player. He already is.

Now, the Raptors want to see what that franchise player looks like: the confidence to take over a game, the shooting to keep defences honest, and the experience to know exactly when his team needs him most. That is the next step.

The post Will Scottie Barnes take the next step in 2026-27 for Raptors? 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: Can Collin Murray-Boyles’ thumbs survive his playing style for a full season? 

The post 31 days, 31 questions: Can Collin Murray-Boyles’ thumbs survive his playing style for a full season?  first appeared on Raptors Republic.

Samson Folk discusses the Raptors young players and their roles for the upcoming season.

Raptors wrap up:

“Raptors’ schedule gets officially released

The NBA unveiled the complete 2026-27 schedule for all 30 teams, giving Raptors fans plenty to circle on the calendar.

Toronto will open its season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21, kicking off a new campaign at Scotiabank Arena.

If you are interested in taking a look at some other games worth keeping an eye out for, check this out: 10 Raptors games to circle on the 2026-27 NBA schedule

Chomche takes his talents overseas

Ulrich Chomche’s next stop will be outside the NBA. The 20-year-old centre has signed with BC Balkan Botevgrad in Bulgaria, with the club announcing the move ahead of its upcoming BKT EuroCup campaign.

Toronto selected the 6-foot-11 Cameroonian 57th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft after acquiring the pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent one season within the Raptors organization.

He made history as the youngest player in his draft class and became the first NBA draft selection to come through both the Basketball Africa League and NBA Academy Africa.

NBA investigation into Kawhi Situation moves forward

The NBA’s investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard continues to move toward a resolution.

According to an ESPN report by Don Van Natta Jr., Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne, the league has not found evidence that Ballmer routed money through Clippers sponsors to Leonard in an attempt to get around the NBA’s salary cap.

The two sides are still working toward a conclusion to the investigation. Ballmer, according to ESPN, has told people close to him that he would not accept a league ruling suggesting he or the Clippers deliberately attempted to circumvent the salary cap and would instead take the matter to arbitration.

The situation remains unresolved as the league works toward its final determination.

Raptors add Malachi Smith

Toronto has added another young guard to its roster, agreeing to a deal with second-year player Malachi Smith.

Smith appeared in 15 games as a rookie, averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. He also shot 43.5 per cent from three-point range on 3.1 attempts per game.

His production was even more notable in the G League. Across 39 games, Smith averaged 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 42.2 per cent from beyond the arc.”

Have a blessed day.

The post Which young Raptor will make the biggest leap? 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: What will Scottie Barnes’ usage look like?

The post 31 days, 31 questions: What will Scottie Barnes’ usage look like? first appeared on Raptors Republic.