The Toronto Raptors kept things cautious at media day. General manager Bobby Webster reminded everyone the team won just 30 games last year, and head coach Darko Rajaković focused on steady growth. The players, though, were less reserved. Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett all pointed to the playoffs as the standard. Aaron Rose provides five takeaway from a hugely interesting event.
This year’s roster looks deeper than last season. Barnes has stepped fully into his role as the face of the franchise on a new max contract, Brandon Ingram is healthy after signing a $120 million extension, and the rotation has more competition. The East is wide open in the middle, and the Raptors believe they can be part of the mix.
Here are five notes from media day that will shape the season ahead.
Can the Raptors Really Build Around Defence?
Rajaković insists everything starts with Barnes on the defensive end. The Raptors finished with the NBA’s second-best defensive rating after the All-Star break last year, though most of those games came against the league’s worst teams. Toronto still has to prove it can defend at that level over a full season.
The blueprint was clear in Summer League, where they forced 27.4 turnovers per game and set a record with 34 in one outing. The plan is for the second unit to create chaos and fuel transition scoring, which matters because the halfcourt offence still has spacing concerns.
There are questions. Immanuel Quickley admitted it is an adjustment to pick up full court. Barrett bristled at the idea he is a horrible defender, though he has rarely been a plus defender for long stretches. Gradey Dick is said to have added weight, but as long as he plays, he will be tested. If Rajaković is right that there is no weak link, Toronto can hang its identity on defence. If not, its weaknesses will be exposed.
Is Brandon Ingram the Difference Maker?
The Raptors made their biggest swing last season when they traded for Ingram and locked him into a new deal. Webster confirmed he is fully healthy with no restrictions, and that alone changes the outlook.
At his best, Ingram is the kind of shot maker Toronto has lacked in recent years. Over the past six seasons, he has averaged 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Barnes has already praised how much space Ingram creates for the rest of the lineup.
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The question is whether he can stay on the floor. Ingram has averaged just 52 games per season across the last eight years and played only 18 last year before an ankle injury. If he is healthy and fits alongside Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley in a lineup without elite spacing, Toronto’s ceiling rises.
Who Makes the Cut in a Crowded Rotation?
Rajaković said he is comfortable using 10 or 11 players, but this season is about winning, not development. Some players will lose minutes.
Six names are locked in: the starters plus Sandro Mamukelashvili as the backup big. Ochai Agbaji has earned trust, while rookie Jamal Shead looks set to run the second unit at point guard. That makes eight.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto’s first-round pick, will push for a role with his defence. Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter both profile as shooting guards who can stretch the floor, but it is unlikely Rajaković can play both. If defence is the priority, Dick in particular has to show he can hold his own.
Can Toronto Avoid a Tax Squeeze?
The Raptors are $3 million into the luxury tax. Given the franchise’s history and the uncertain strength of this roster, there is virtually no chance they stay there. To get under, they will need to move one of their top-six salaries, which means a starter or Agbaji.
Agbaji is extension eligible but unsigned. Barrett is also approaching extension talks. If neither gets a deal, one of them could be moved before the deadline.
It would be surprising for this team to actually pay into the tax before proving it is a playoff threat. More likely, Toronto trims payroll even if it means giving up a rotation piece. Shedding money while adding talent usually costs trade value, and how the Raptors handle that balance will be worth watching.
Time to Set the Standard
Webster and Rajaković have avoided putting a playoff mandate on this team. Webster pointed to last year’s 30 wins, but that cannot be the measuring stick. A third straight lost season would bring major changes.
It is time for Rajaković to show he can take this group forward. It is time for Barnes to lead as the face of the franchise. And it is time for the Raptors to prove they are more than a fringe play-in team.
The East is open in the middle, and Toronto’s win total sits at 39.5 on Bodog. If the Raptors fall short, tough questions await. Barnes has spoken openly about making the playoffs, and that is the standard this team should set.
It is go time.