The Toronto Raptors just wrapped a bruising seven-game first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and despite the loss, the franchise walked away with real reasons for optimism and an even longer list of decisions to make. With a 46-36 regular season behind them and a young core anchored by Scottie Barnes, the front office now has to translate playoff competitiveness into legitimate contention. Below is a breakdown of every priority general manager Bobby Webster and his staff need to tackle before training camp opens.
Reassessing the Brandon Ingram Experiment
When Toronto acquired Brandon Ingram and re-signed him to an escalating contract that pays $38 million in 2025-26, $40 million in 2026-27, and $42 million in 2027-28 with a $41.9 million player option for the final year, the bet was that he would be the secondary scorer Scottie Barnes needed. The playoffs told a different story. Ingram averaged just 12.0 points on 32.8% shooting against Cleveland, becoming one of the postseason’s most disappointing performers. Sportsnet’s Michael Grange has openly placed him in the conversation as a potential outgoing piece if Toronto wants to chase a bigger fish.
Barnes is a power creator who thrives when the ball moves, while Ingram is a mid-range wing who tends to slow possessions down with extended dribbling. The overlap with Barnes and RJ Barrett, both of whom prefer to operate downhill, leaves Ingram without a clear functional role in late-clock situations. Brian Windhorst already reported last offseason that Toronto was hunting for a “big fish,” and Ingram’s $40 million salary is large enough to match star money in a trade without becoming an untradeable albatross. Webster bluntly summarized the original logic by saying “Scottie wants to share the ball, Brandon wants to score the ball” — but the playoff data has forced a re-examination.
Managing the Salary Cap and Apron Restrictions
Toronto’s books are tight. Scottie Barnes’ maximum extension jumps to roughly $41.7 million, Immanuel Quickley is locked in at a flat $32.5 million, Ingram occupies $40 million, and RJ Barrett accounts for $29.6 million. That’s nearly $144 million committed to four players, with a luxury tax line of $201 million looming. Jakob Poeltl’s $19.5 million player option is expected to be picked up, eating up another large chunk. With the 2026-27 cap rising at a projected 7% rather than the earlier 10% estimate, every dollar matters.
Toronto isn’t yet in second apron territory, but it’s operating as an over-the-cap team, which restricts external signings to the Mid-Level Exception. Crossing the first apron would trigger hard-cap restrictions that would handcuff Webster’s ability to aggregate salaries in trades. The flat structure of Quickley’s deal is a quiet advantage here, and ownership at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment may need to swallow a luxury tax bill they’ve historically avoided if they want to keep this roster intact and improve it.
Navigating the 19th Overall Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
After landing Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9 in 2025 and Alijah Martin at No. 39, Toronto moves back in this draft to the 19th overall pick. That’s a sweet spot for plug-and-play rotation talent, especially given that Murray-Boyles already showcased his upside in the playoffs by averaging 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 stocks (steals plus blocks) off the bench against Cleveland. The Raptors control every one of their first-round picks through 2032, with the only outgoing assets being their 2031 and 2032 second-rounders.
Holding all those firsts is the single most flexible piece of leverage Webster has. Whether Toronto uses the 19th pick to add youth or packages it in a trade for an established veteran will define the timeline. Names like Chris Cenac Jr. have surfaced as potential targets at that range, while the picks themselves remain valuable currency in any star-chasing conversation.
Free Agency and Mid-Level Exception Targets
With limited cap space, Toronto will rely heavily on the MLE and veteran’s minimum contracts to round out the bench. This is the area where smart shopping can fundamentally change a rotation, and where every wager — much like the kind tracked at the best betting sites Canada — comes down to value identification. Tim Hardaway Jr., who signed a one-year minimum with Denver last summer, could be a realistic target. Landry Shamet, a career 38.6% three-point shooter, is another minimum-contract option who could be moved by the right pitch.
Mamukelashvili just finished a historic season with career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals while shooting 38.9% from three. He’s exactly the kind of floor-spacing big the Raptors have lacked, and Toronto wants him back. The risk is that another team offers more than the Raptors can comfortably match given their cap situation.
Resolving Five Team Options
Toronto must decide on five team options this summer: Gradey Dick at $7.1 million, Ja’Kobe Walter at $3.8 million, Jamal Shead at $2.3 million, Trayce Jackson-Davis at $2.4 million, and Jonathan Mogbo at $2.3 million. Jamison Battle effectively functions as a sixth team option. These calls aren’t trivial — together they shape the back end of the rotation and influence which veterans Toronto can pursue.
Dick is entering the final year of his rookie deal and would be a restricted free agent next summer. His shooting development has been uneven, and Toronto must decide whether he’s a long-term piece or a trade chip. Dick and Barrett combine for roughly $36.7 million in outgoing salary capacity after 2026-27, making them the most logical centerpieces for any major deal.
Adding a True Half-Court Creator
The Raptors’ offense bogged down in the half-court during the playoffs, exposing the lack of a reliable late-clock initiator. Quickley missed significant playoff time with injuries, Barnes is a forward at heart, and Barrett is a downhill scorer rather than a setup man. Toronto needs someone who can handle the final five seconds of a possession with poise.
The board includes Jamal Murray, who is owed $50.1 million in 2026-27, $53.8 million in 2027-28, and $57.5 million in 2028-29. Donovan Mitchell could become available if Cleveland reassesses after their second-round reality check. Kyrie Irving, Darius Garland, and Austin Reaves via sign-and-trade are all in conversations. There’s even Anthony Davis, owed $58.5 million in 2026-27 with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28 — Ingram’s $40 million combined with Poeltl’s $19.5 million could match that money. Washington went 17-65, the worst record in the East, which makes Davis potentially gettable.
Frontcourt Defense and Rim Protection
Poeltl’s contract already looked uncomfortable before the playoffs, and his pre-injury form has been hard to recapture. Yet trading him will be tricky regardless of how he plays — well or poorly. A frontcourt that pairs Barnes with a true rim protector remains a long-term goal.
Goga Bitadze, standing 6-11 with a disciplined drop-coverage approach, has been floated as a target. He provides verticality that lets Toronto’s aggressive wings gamble on the perimeter knowing a shot-blocker waits at the rim.
Developing Collin Murray-Boyles and the Young Core
Murray-Boyles flashed in his rookie playoffs at 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 stocks per game off the bench. His versatility makes him a building block alongside Barnes (24) and Barrett (25), both just entering their primes.
The 6-6 Nikola Topic, potentially squeezed out of Oklahoma City’s crowded guard rotation, fits Toronto’s positionless archetype with elite transition vision and three-position defensive flexibility. Acquiring him would be a high-ceiling long-term play.
Veteran Leadership Decisions
Garrett Temple’s roster spot is up for review — Toronto must weigh whether his locker-room presence outweighs the developmental upside of giving those minutes to a younger player.
The closing moments against Cleveland, when Tristan Thompson dunked in the final seconds of a blowout and Jamal Shead and Barnes confronted him, set a tone. Head coach Darko Rajakovic called it “classless.” That competitive fire is something Webster will want to preserve.
Shooting and Floor Spacing Upgrades
Toronto’s three-point volume and reliability remain below contender thresholds, particularly in late-clock situations. Adding shooting is non-negotiable.
Names like Jaden Hardy have surfaced as realistic shooting upgrades who could give the Raptors bench the consistent offense it lacked when Quickley and Ingram missed playoff games.