Summer League might just be the first on-court step of a youngster's professional journey, but I think it's pretty safe to say that rookie Collin Murray-Boyles will fit very well within the Raptors' chain of command.
He certainly brings that trademark sense of hustle and defensive intensity that this franchise highly appreciates. However, as NBA analysts Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon noted in a recent podcast (as referenced in a subsequent piece for Raptors Rapture), it might take some time for CMB to find his rhythm with offensive consistency at the NBA level.
While that is a valid perspective on CMB's ability to be effective in his rookie season (I certainly shared that sentiment in some of my post-draft pieces on Murray-Boyles), the bright side is that Toronto has added another strong, burly defender who can thrive on the inside. Whether Murray-Boyles will serve his role largely out on the perimeter or take on the responsibility as a small-ball five (much like Jonathan Mogbo did during his solid 2024 rookie campaign) remains to be seen.
To gain a better understanding of what those in the Raptors' organization think of Murray-Boyles' addition to the team, Keith Smith of Spotrac highlights comments made by an unnamed Raptors scout in his July 22nd piece titled "Eastern Conference Summer League Notes."
Raptors excited about Collin Murray-Boyles' fit alongside veterans
The quote from this anonymous Raptors scout would read:
"We love him. Loved him at school, loved him in the pre-draft process, love him at Summer League. He’s tough. He plays hard. He has a high level of accountability for himself and his teammates. We’re excited to see what that looks like with our veteran guys. We think that our group of forwards/wings are going to push each other every day. That’s how they’ll all get better."Anonymous Raptors scout via Keith Smith
Looking at the draft process, it can be so simple to think about prospects that seem like seamless fits or those you expect to make an impact right away. But, as this unnamed Raptors scout says, it can often be a tale of how the veterans around said prospect can make them better and push them to be the best version of themselves.
I think, when considering what the Raptors are built like right now, even those who aren’t much older than CMB can take him on as a mentee and strive toward building the best cohesive flow on the team. It’s not just about pairing him with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, but also about seeing how he gels with guys like RJ Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo, Ja’Kobe Walter, Ochai Agbaji and others.
Murray-Boyles' toughness and hard-nosed attitude go without question, but now it's up to the players within the Raptors' structure to grind and support him toward the spotlight.