Toronto Raptors 2026-27 roster deep dive: inside the Kawhi Leonard saga

The trade that would send Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors remained on hold heading into the 2026-2027 season, according to The Star, which reported on July 9, 2026 that the deal agreed with the Los Angeles Clippers was on hold pending an NBA investigation. Yahoo Sports reported the probe was entering its 11th month.

Where the Kawhi Leonard saga stands today

On June 30, 2026, ESPN reported the terms of the agreement — Ingram, Dick, unprotected 2031 picks and additional future picks for Kawhi Leonard. Nine days later, on July 9, The Star reported the deal had been paused pending the NBA investigation.

A joint statement from the Clippers and the Raptors read: “On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.”

On July 30, Ujiri was quoted by Yahoo Sports and the New York Post describing Leonard’s mindset: “He is determined and seems in the right frame of mind.” On August 17, ESPN reported that the NBA had found no evidence showing Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap. As of August 25, an update relayed by ProFootballNetwork/RaptorsAggr noted the trade remained “on hold” even “with training camp fast approaching.”

The trade terms: who leaves, who arrives, and the picks

The framework of the agreement, as reported by ESPN on June 30 and as also reported by Third Apron on July 7, sends Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick from Toronto to Los Angeles, along with unprotected 2031 picks and additional future picks. In return, the Raptors would receive Kawhi Leonard.

Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick both appear on BeBasket’s 2025-2026 Raptors roster and are absent from the 2026-2027 active roster.

According to Sportico, Leonard is due $50.3M in 2026-2027, the third year of a three-year, $149.5M contract.

The NBA investigation and its impact on the calendar

The Star reported the trade was put on hold pending the NBA investigation into the Clippers. ESPN reported on July 29 that the investigation was being conducted by the law firm Wachtell Lipton. Yahoo Sports separately reported that the probe was entering its “11th month.”

The August 17 finding was that the NBA had uncovered no evidence Ballmer funneled money to Leonard through team sponsors to skirt the salary cap. The finding was reported by ESPN.

As of August 25, the trade remained “on hold” “with training camp fast approaching,” per the ProFootballNetwork/RaptorsAggr update.

Projected starting five

Immanuel Quickley projects as Toronto’s starting point guard: content relayed from Yahoo Sports stated that Quickley “should be running the Raptors’ offense.” Quickley signed a five-year, $175 million extension with Toronto in 2024.

R.J. Barrett slots in as the starting shooting guard. NBA.com described Barrett as having become a key piece of the Raptors’ offense. He enters the 2026-2027 season in the final year of his contract, a situation SI.com flagged as making his long-term future with the franchise uncertain.

Scottie Barnes, listed at shooting guard / small forward, is the projected starting small forward. Yahoo Sports noted that Toronto can move him between scorer, point-forward and defensive roles, underscoring the range of jobs he is asked to handle. Yahoo Sports headlined that Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles can set the Raptors’ tone.

Jakob Poeltl anchors the frontcourt as the starting center. Toronto’s own team channel highlighted his rim protection and scoring efficiency as central to how he anchors the squad down low. He also chips in as a scorer, having averaged 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 2025, per Rotowire.

The fifth starting spot depends on whether the Kawhi Leonard trade is concluded. A June 25, 2026 Facebook post described Brandon Ingram as a priority wing starter alongside Barnes and Dick. Separately, an April 2026 post relaying Sportsnet’s Michael Grange floated Ingram as part of the Raptors’ likely starting five if the Kawhi Leonard trade does not close.

Bench unit

Jamal Shead is the primary backup point guard. A Facebook post citing Raptors Nation calls him one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. He backs up Quickley at point guard.

Ja’Kobe Walter continues to develop as a wing option off the bench. Reddit users following the team have noted he has come on strong over his past three games, citing his shooting splits and point-of-attack defense as strengths in that stretch.

Collin Murray-Boyles enters his second season after earning All-Rookie honors as a rookie, per Sportsnet. Sportsnet reported the Raptors are looking to expand his game in Year 2.

Kyle Anderson joins the bench as a veteran addition. He signed a one-year contract, confirmed by the Toronto Raptors’ own team site, and SI.com described the move as intended to bolster the team’s depth and veteran leadership.

Jaden Bradley, Toronto’s 50th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, begins the season on a two-way contract. He is one of the two-way players on Toronto’s roster this season alongside Chucky Hepburn, according to SI.com.

Alijah Martin, A.J. Lawson, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jamison Battle, Allen Graves and Nate Bittle round out the roster depth behind the rotation pieces above.

Head coach: Darko Rajaković

Darko Rajaković enters his fourth season as Toronto’s head coach in 2026-2027, having been hired under Masai Ujiri to replace Nick Nurse in the 2023 offseason, according to The Athletic. He signed a multiyear contract with the Raptors that was reported on July 2, 2026, by the same outlet.

Rajaković was named head coach of the World Team for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game by commissioner Adam Silver, per NBA.com.

Toronto Raptors full roster

• Immanuel Quickley — Guard
• Jamal Shead — Point Guard
• Chucky Hepburn — Point Guard
• R.J. Barrett — Shooting Guard
• Ja’Kobe Walter — Shooting Guard
• Jaden Bradley — Shooting Guard
• A.J. Lawson — Shooting Guard
• Alijah Martin — Guard
• Scottie Barnes — Shooting Guard / Small Forward
• Jamison Battle — Small Forward
• Kyle Anderson — Forward
• Allen Graves — Forward
• Jakob Poeltl — Center
• Nate Bittle — Center
• Collin Murray-Boyles — Power Forward
• Trayce Jackson-Davis — Power Forward

Other offseason moves: Anderson, Martin and Bradley

Beyond the Leonard saga, Toronto made a handful of confirmed offseason additions. According to NBA.com’s Offseason Deals Tracker, the Raptors re-signed Alijah Martin to a two-year deal and added Kyle Anderson on a one-year deal, both officially announced. ESPN’s Raptors transactions page lists the dates: Anderson signed on July 4, and Martin was re-signed on July 3. Both players appear on the active 2026-2027 BeBasket roster.

Toronto also added Jaden Bradley on a two-way contract, signed July 4 according to ESPN’s transaction log, and he too shows up on the team’s active roster for the coming season.

What changes for Toronto depending on the outcome

If the trade clears before the season begins, Toronto adds Kawhi Leonard in a deal SI.com characterized as “the biggest trade in franchise history, acquiring Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster deal.”

As things currently stand in the database, the 2026-2027 active roster lists neither Ingram nor Dick. Anderson, Martin and Bradley all appear on the 2026-2027 active roster, per BeBasket’s database.