Raptors Offseason Recap & Early 2026-27 Season Preview

An offseason of uncertainty has made it difficult for bettors to evaluate the Toronto Raptors’ basketball betting odds at the BetMGM sportsbook. What can hoops fans expect from the Raptors in 2026/27?

Toronto Raptors Offseason Moves in 2026

The Kawhi Leonard trade is meant to be the Raptors’ main offseason move. As of Aug. 21, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers are still waiting for the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into potential salary cap circumvention. 

Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a first-round pick swap were the agreed trade package for Leonard. As it stands, Ingram and Dick are in limbo and unsure which team they will be suiting up for in 2026/27. 

Toronto also added Kyle Anderson on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. Alijah Martin, a 2025 second-round pick, was given a two-year deal to stay in Toronto. 

In the draft, the Raptors selected Allen Graves 19th overall and Jaden Bradley with the 50th pick. 

Sandro Mamukelashvili departed in free agency, signing a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Raptors 2026-27 Schedule: Easiest and Trickiest Months

February is clearly the Raptors’ most challenging month. Seven of their 11 games are on the road. The four home games include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks, with a pair of back-to-backs.

Toronto hosts the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 6 and 7, respectively, and faces the Hawks and Hornets on the road on Feb. 16 and 17, respectively. The Raptors also take on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Valentine’s Day and have a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Feb. 4. 

Despite spending most of the month on the road, March looks like it could be Toronto’s easiest month. The Raptors face the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings twice apiece. 

They also have games against the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and New Orleans Pelicans – that comes to seven out of 15 games in March against teams that aren’t expected to be in the top six in their respective conferences.

Raptors’ Regular Season Preview: What To Expect

The Raptors are one of several teams with Finals ambitions in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is a tier below the defending-champion New York Knicks, but a case can be made for putting the Raptors alongside the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons as New York’s biggest challengers.

If the Leonard trade goes through, don’t expect the two-time Finals MVP to play 70+ games. The 2025/26 campaign was only the second time Leonard has played more than 60 games in a season since he left the San Antonio Spurs. Scottie Barnes will still have to carry a heavy workload in the regular season. 

Already fifth in defence last season, Toronto projects to once again be elite on that end. Graves’ hustle fits with the team’s identity, and Collin Murray-Boyles is in line for an even bigger role. Leonard has to pace himself more at this stage of his career, but he’s still capable of being an impactful defender.

One of the Raptors’ biggest problems last season was their crunch-time offence. Leonard’s arrival should lead to a marked improvement in their 22nd-ranked clutch offensive rating. 

The health of Jakob Poeltl, who only played 46 regular-season games, is a key factor. Poeltl is owed almost $90 million across the next three seasons and could find himself coming off the bench if Darko Rajaković favours using Murray-Boyles at the five. 

The Raptors won 46 games last season. If Leonard is in Ingram’s place, they should be at least a 50-win team, even in a stacked Eastern Conference. Anderson was a smart addition in free agency, providing depth at the forward positions and an experienced rotation piece. The Raptors will hope Graves can replace some of Mamukelashvili’s minutes in the frontcourt. 

Raptors Roster in 2026-27

Last 10 Raptors Regular Seasons

NBA Championship Betting Odds