Hanifan’s offseason outlook: Evaluating the Toronto Raptors’ 2026 offseason

Heat Raptors — (Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

The calendar has turned to September. You know what that means, right?! Our offseason outlook series is back for the third-straight year!

Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! We will be going in alphabetical order, beginning with the Eastern Conference. Today, we will look at the Toronto Raptors’ summer!

Previous offseason outlooks:

Evaluating the Toronto Raptors’ 2026 offseason:

Additions: Kawhi Leonard, Andre Jackson Jr., Kyle Anderson

Subtractions: Brandon Ingram, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Garrett Temple, Gradey Dick, A.J. Lawson, Jonathan Mogbo

Re-signed: ——

Draft: Allen Graves (No. 19 overall), Jaden Bradley (No. 50)

Hanifan’s outlook: The Raptors took a sizable step in the right direction last year, improving their 2024-25 win total by 16 wins, finishing 46-36, good enough to net them a top-5 seed in the East. However, they were not able to advance past the first round, losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Still, last season was a very encouraging one for Toronto, led by two-way wing Scottie Barnes. For the most part, the Raptors — who finished No. 15 in offense and No. 5 in defense — made an earth-shattering trade to acquire Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard.

While the trade was temporarily put on hold due to the NBA investigating the Clippers and Leonard for potential cap circumvention, the deal went through this week — with the cost being Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and one swap. The Raptors sold high on Ingram, and Gradey wasn’t going to factor much into their rotation anyway.

Leonard was a top-3 player in the NBA from January onward last year. If he’s healthy, this is a seismic upgrade — although that is a big if. All in all, this was a very good summer for the Raptors, who are now gunning for it (with the Miami Heat) in a wide-open East.