Samson Folk & Trevon Heath discuss the Raptors.
From Zulfi, on the opening night roster:
“The Toronto Raptors’ Opening Night roster is officially set.
On Monday, the team revealed the 16 players they’ll enter the 2026-27 campaign with ahead of Wednesday’s season-opener against the visiting Chicago Bulls.
The star forward duo of Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard will headline the Raptors this season, followed by a starting group that projects to include RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.
Barnes is heading into Year 6 since the Raptors drafted him fourth-overall in 2021, and is coming off a season in which he finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, made an All-Defensive second team for the first time and earned his second All-Star nod, and was the only player in the NBA with at least 100 steals (114) and 100 blocks (116).
As for Leonard, he rejoined the franchise he previously left in 2019 right after leading it to its only championship, marking an unprecedented return that came after a months-long trade saga. The two-time Finals MVP reunites with the Raptors on the heels of one of his healthiest and most productive seasons through 15 years in the NBA. The 36-year-old averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on 62.9 per cent true shooting in 65 games last year, finishing seventh in MVP voting and earning an All-NBA second-team selection.
The Raptors not only traded for Leonard, but also extended the enigmatic star through 2028-29 on a two-year, $115 million deal.
As for the rest of the roster, Toronto’s reserves will feature an ascending trio of youngsters in third-year guards Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter, along with sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles. Youth will be a major part of the 2026-27 Raptors, with all but six players heading into Opening Night having five or fewer years of experience.
Veteran free agent acquisition Kyle Anderson also projects to be part of fourth-year head coach Darko Rajakovic’s rotation in some capacity, as does rookie 19th-overall pick Allen Graves. And speaking of the sideline boss, backing Rajakovic at the front of the bench will be Pat Delaney, Jama Mahlalela and former Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. The rest of the coaching staff will include Ivo Simovic, Vin Bhavnani, Eric Khoury, Jim Sann, Mery Andreade, Matt Vest and Jeremy Castleberry, who returns alongside Leonard.”
Have a blessed day.
