Leave it to Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster to not want to sit around and play the waiting game.
Many Raptors fans expected the franchise to rebuild, by growing their young talent and figuring out the kinks in between, with some hoping the team would go all-in on a tanking strategy. Now, the Toronto Raptors, in their current form, can still fizzle out towards the bottom and reap the reward of a high lottery pick.
But it became clear as day post-deadline, by going for a big-time move to acquire Brandon Ingram; the Raptors are set to retool more than embark on a classic NBA rebuild.
Right now, Ingram is still handling an ankle injury that's kept him out of on-court action for several months, so the prospect of BI suiting up for Toronto in the immediate timeframe is still pretty hazy. With that in mind, these final months remaining in the Raptors' schedule is not just the last lap in the race; it could realistically influence the front office's roster decisions moving forward.
Adding Ingram to the Raptors' core will be a great boost, but it also creates some uncertainty for other players. Which Raptors players are most at risk of facing an uncertain future following Ingram's arrival in Toronto? Let's explore them one by one.
Jakob Poeltl
The big fella from Austria has been a feel-good redemption story for the Toronto Raptors this season.
With a loyal and passionate fanbase, especially considering what it took to reacquire Poeltl, he had his work cut out for him to regain the backing of Raptors nation. His topsy-turvy season last year, after being given a big payday in the 2023 offseason, did not help matters. But, Poeltl has shown tremendous poise and growth in the 2024-25 campaign, becoming a great partner in the pick and roll, especially alongside RJ Barrett.
While Jakob Poeltl plays a significant role, he is at the top of the list of uncertain Raptors' futures due to his current contract situation and previous trade rumors. He remained with the team at the past trade deadline, despite numerous reports indicating Poeltl was attracting several suitors (Toronto was hesitant to trade him, nonetheless).
As Raptors fans saw with the franchise's handling of Bruce Brown, it could simply be a matter of finding the right offer to part ways with such a talent.
Poeltl could help out a ton of contenders across the league, in need of some quality big man depth, so Toronto is not without a fair amount of potential trade destinations to consider. If his game only continues to grow and improve, Poeltl might be on pace to decline his $19.5 million player option in the 2026-27 offseason. A competent center is definitely an important roster need, but it could prove costly for Toronto to keep him around past that year.
Toronto could explore a trade for Poeltl in the offseason, with his thought already in the back of their minds, and gain something of note before he walks for nothing. It would be tough losing a strong center, but hopefully, the Raptors don't act hastily for too long before going back to the mediocre, center-less years of the early 2020's.
Immanuel Quickley
While it's been a great year for Jakob Poeltl and even for our next entry, who I'll get to, the same can't be said for Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley.
It's not that Quickley is playing significantly poorly or anything, but the 25-year-old has just had a tough year trying to stay healthy on the court. He has been relegated to playing only 16 games thus far in the 2024-25 campaign, and that's definitely less than ideal given Toronto's decision to pay him a large sum in the offseason.
IQ earned that big payday with his playmaking growth and shooting prowess shown last season, but this year has been, to say the least, a bad stretch of luck. Ingram himself would even reference Quickley by name alongside Scottie Barnes, as Raptors talents who caught his eye when making the move; so there's definitely a world where Quickley's fit in Toronto is still possible.
The key factor is whether he can live up to the contract and thrive as the ideal point guard, complementing a true scorer like Brandon Ingram and a versatile player like Scottie Barnes.
He's carrying a lot of pressure in this final stretch. While there's a reasonable chance the Raptors will experiment with his role, I can envision a scenario where Quickley might be traded if the team doesn't see the desired progress or direction.
RJ Barrett
This move sucks, but it's undoubtedly the most obvious one for Raptors fans to understand. RJ Barrett's NBA road has been full of ups and downs, but since returning home to Toronto in the OG Anunoby deal, he's really come into his own as one of the team's most consistent and healthy players.
When the Raptors lost players like Barnes and Quickley very early this season, who stepped up in their absence? The "Maple Mamba" did.
He has his flaws, such as inconsistent play at times, poor free throw shooting, and suspect defense, but at his core, Barrett goes out there trying to help his team in any way he can. He has shown a ton of promise as an improved playmaker, remains a solid rebounder, and his scoring, though shaky, can be explosive at any given time.
Although there's a world where Barrett and Ingram could thrive on the wings, it doesn't make a ton of sense to have those two in the starting lineup together. Not to stir up conspiracy theories, but I've realized that the fact Barrett rarely gets a front office nudge or is mentioned in long-term outlooks suggests that his departure is impending.
The team could opt to start either Gradey Dick or Ochai Agbaji in his place, a much cheaper and possibly better fit for the Raptors' future aspirations. I am not 100% convinced that he is out the door just yet; I think the team has to see how they gel together first before making such hasty moves. However, if anyone on the Raptors' roster faces an uncertain tenure, it is unfortunately RJ Barrett.