Toronto: Kawhi to extend the attack

Toronto are reunited with Kawhi Leonard and face a specific question: how do they keep their running game while becoming more reliable when the defence has time to set? The Raptors come off a 46-win season and a first-round exit. Their new wing must add an answer in the difficult possessions, without erasing Scottie Barnes' central role.

Fifth in the East with a 46–36 record in 2025–2026, Toronto returned to the playoffs before falling to Cleveland. Darko Rajaković's team built part of its progress on defence and fast breaks. That foundation remains valuable: winning the ball and pushing before the opposition gets back allows a team to create shots without having to set up a system on every possession.

The spring also underlined the importance of attacks that do not start in transition. When an opponent protects the rim and forces a long possession, a team needs to keep several threats alive until the final seconds. Toronto must therefore enrich their game without slowing down every possession. The aim is not to choose between running and playing in the half court, but to make both options credible in the same game.

Kawhi Leonard's return comes with the departures of Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in the trade with the Clippers. Kyle Anderson also arrives, as do Allen Graves and Jaden Bradley among the younger players. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jonathan Mogbo are no longer in the squad. The moves change the possibilities on the wings and in secondary creation.

Leonard can take a difficult possession, but he must not become the only outlet after a first action breaks down. Barnes must continue to organise and Immanuel Quickley to set the tempo. The coach's job will be to decide when to let the wing attack his one-on-one and when to use the attention he draws to open up the other side of the court. It is a partnership to be built, not a simple replacement of points.

Our conditional projection pairs Quickley, RJ Barrett, Leonard, Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. It points to a possible balance if the squad is fully available, without announcing the official opening line-up. Barnes can move between creating and finishing, while Poeltl provides a presence near the rim and a screening partner. The value of the five will depend on the speed of decisions after the first help.

Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles and Anderson offer different functions off the bench. Murray-Boyles can raise the energy and the possibilities for inside pairings; Shead can maintain order at point guard. Trayce Jackson-Davis and the other end-of-camp players complete the options. Nate Bittle remains one to watch at the 18 October cut-off and is not in our immediately projected bench.

Toronto's strength remains turning defence into quick points. To maintain it, the wings must run after the turnover or rebound and the first ball-handler must spot an advantage early. The risk would be to wait systematically for Leonard, even when the team already has an edge. The half-court game must become an additional answer, not a reason to give up the easiest baskets.

Leonard's physical management and the continuity of combinations will matter over the long haul. Toronto will also need to keep enough outside threat to let Barnes and Poeltl work in the area close to the rim. Anderson can help keep the ball moving, but every combination will have to preserve spacing. Depth gives the staff choices; it does not remove the need to check how well they fit together.

The Raptors will host Chicago on Thursday 22 October at 0:30 Brazzaville time, which is Wednesday evening in Canada. This opening game will offer a chance to observe how creation is shared between Quickley, Barnes and Leonard. The SNA fact sheet and the calendar below will allow readers to follow the opener and the fixtures that follow.