Beyond Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors likely won’t see another needle-moving (even by a centimetre) type of player walk through the doors of the Scotiabank Arena before the start of the 2026-27 season.
This is especially true after DeMar DeRozan signed with the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
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That means the answer must already exist inside Toronto’s locker room. Leonard is still a superstar, but for the Raptors to make a meaningful run in an uber-competitive Eastern Conference, he needs the supporting cast to step up.
After Leonard hit the game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2019 championship run, injuries temporarily slowed him down. Leonard’s teammates picked him up until he was ready to save the day. Fred VanVleet went nuclear from deep against the Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam ascended and hit the last field goal in the title-clinching game. Game Six Kyle Lowry went berserk in the opening minutes.
On this team, especially when Leonard misses time, it will again take a village. But for the Raptors to truly take advantage of however many years Leonard has in the tank, fans believe Ja’Kobe Walter must unlock another level.
Walter has the potential to be a more dynamic version of what Danny Green was in 2019. The third-year guard averaged one steal last season and should continue to grow into one of the better perimeter defenders on the team. He’s also one of the best shooters on the roster after averaging 40.9 per cent from deep in his sophomore season. If Walter can continue to develop his in-between game, he’ll play a significant role in reducing the scoring droughts that have typically plagued the Raptors in the past.
With the start of pre-season beginning on Oct. 3, Raptors fans can continue to voice their expertise, knowledge, and concerns about the upcoming year on FanDuel.
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