The 2024-25 NBA regular season has come to a close, and for the rebuilding Toronto Raptors, it’s a year filled with both promise and challenges. They won't be reaping the rewards of a playoff berth and will instead begin their offseason earlier than many of their rivals.
The year started off quite rough for Toronto. The team struggled with injuries and often faced challenges on both offense and defense. Fortunately, after the All-Star break, they received an easier schedule, which did wonders turn the Raptors' fortunes around (even if it hurt their lottery odds significantly).
The upcoming offseason is set to be a crucial time for the Toronto Raptors and their players. It's clear that the Raptors’ management is committed to a new direction that involves integrating Brandon Ingram as a key player, supported by a talented group around him.
Additionally, Toronto aims to make a significant impact in the 2025 NBA Draft, building on the strong momentum generated by last year’s impressive class of new talents.
That said, it's likely that Toronto will look at its roster for players who might be seen as expendable or no longer fit with their forward-looking plans. While it may be a tough reality for Raptors Nation to accept, these bittersweet decisions are a part of the basketball business.
As the offseason approaches, which Raptors players might be turning the page on their time in Toronto? Let’s take a closer look at who could be facing the end of this chapter.
Chris Boucher
As much as it saddens me, it seems clear that one of the most obvious choice of players unlikely to return to Toronto next year is the energetic fan favorite, Chris Boucher.
Boucher's 2024-25 campaign marked a career revival of sorts for him, as he carved out a steady role off the bench. Even while the Raptors embraced a new, younger direction, his sharpshooting spark stood out, making him one of the team's highlights in the season's early days.
Just as Boucher was hitting his stride and showing a lot of confidence on the court, rumors started swirling that it was the perfect time for Toronto to consider trading him. It seemed likely that a deal could happen before the trade deadline. However, despite all the chatter, Boucher made it through yet another trade deadline. This gave me hope that he might be able to negotiate a new extension with Toronto to stay in the city.
Out of nowhere, Boucher seemed to disappear from the lineup, sitting on the bench from late February until the season’s end. There were no serious injuries or issues reported that would explain why he was sidelined; it was simply a coaching decision.
This left many people, myself included, feeling puzzled. It dawned on me that Boucher might have played his final game in Toronto without anyone even realizing it.
Boucher has often found himself in Darko Rajakovic's "doghouse," leaving his status always relatively uncertain. His recent string of social media posts, which express frustration of being relegated to watch on the sideline, make it clear he’s not happy with how things have gone for him lately. This only adds to the likelihood that Boucher may be on his way out of town.
Ochai Agbaji
I was really impressed by the complete turnaround Ochai Agbaji made this season. I’ve always had a soft spot for players like him—3-and-D wings who are the finishing touch for teams aiming to stay relevant in the league.
However, when Agbaji first joined Toronto from Utah last season, he left a lot to be desired. At that point, it felt like he might be a lost cause so early in his NBA career. I was shocked that he struggled to find a rhythm, especially since he doesn’t need to dominate the ball. All we wanted to see from "Young Och" was reliable defense and decent three-point shooting.
Whatever work Agbaji put into the last offseason and training camp really paid off because he has become a fantastic complementary player for this young Raptors core.
Early in the season, he was breaking records for the biggest 3-point shooting surge in quite some time, and his defense improved dramatically, as shown by his ability to rack up steals on a consistent basis. He focused intently on the two areas that could secure him a long career in the NBA.
While I really believe Agbaji has a lot of potential and would hate to see him leave, he is ultimately a wing player. Right now, it seems like Toronto is focused on clearing up the logjam at those positions, and unfortunately, Agbaji might be the first domino to fall in that process.
Moreover, his skill set appears to complement any team in the league, and his valuable contract should attract contenders as well. This factors into the favorable return that Toronto could expect for him. If Agbaji continues to play at a higher level, he will undoubtedly seek a significant contract extension.
Given the expenses that Toronto already has, I’m not very confident that the Raptors will be the ones to meet his financial demands.
RJ Barrett
Now, let's talk about the "Maple Mamba," Mr. RJ Barrett.
I honestly feel quite bad for Barrett. It seems that even on nights when he outshines the rest or strings together a series of quality games, people still find a way to critique him or bring up his shortcomings. He rarely gets the praise he deserves.
I'll admit, there were times when I grew frustrated with his defensive lapses, inconsistent shooting splits, and the free throw struggles that lingered throughout the year.
At the core of it all, Barrett was a crucial lifeline for the Raptors' offense throughout much of the year. When Toronto struggled to find a reliable scorer, Barrett consistently stepped up to carry the load, even when the path to scoring wasn't always pretty. Furthermore, he appeared to be the healthiest star on the roster for an extended stretch, until he, too, started to miss time—whether it was for rest or because the injury bug finally caught up with him.
I think our conversation would be very different if the Raptors hadn't brought in Brandon Ingram. While I'm optimistic that Toronto will play through a few games to assess their wing-heavy core, I believe they will eventually explore trading Barrett from their collection of trade assets, especially with the offseason approaching.
There was even a report that emerged after the trade deadline suggesting the Raptors were already considering flipping Barrett for Ingram in the Pelicans trade, but New Orleans decided against it. If that report is accurate, it indicates that Toronto isn't overly concerned about losing Barrett.
I’d love to see Barrett finally appreciated in his hometown and help elevate the Raptors back to a level of playoff relevance, where he can truly feel the energy and excitement. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look promising. I’d hate to see Barrett leave, but the writing is already on the wall; it’s more a matter of when, not if.