If there's one thing Toronto Raptors fans would agree on about sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles, it's that they want more of him. He’s such a fascinating talent and unique player who blends switchability, talent, physicality, and skill into this ideal player for Toronto’s two-way system. The demand for more CMB has been well documented since he was given the runway to show who he was last season, and it appears fans will get exactly that this season.
At the Raptors' practice on Tuesday, TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported that head coach Darko Rajakovic said they need to play CMB more than last year and get him on the court with Jakob Poeltl. "He's so good & improved so much that he needs to share the court with Jak,” said Rajakovic.
Throughout the offseason, CMB's role with the Raptors in the 2026-27 season was a big topic of conversation among fans. Given their depth at the center spot, most people expected CMB to operate primarily as a backup five. But it seems like the goal is going to be to have Murray-Boyles on the court in every situation they can, with him as a sixth-starter type for this Raptors squad.
Rajakovic's CMB plan is elite
The idea of CMB primarily being a backup five scared me throughout the offseason. First, having to be the anchor and primary rim protector would take a lot out of him and limit his ability to grow offensively. It also would have put him in harm's way more than he needed to be in his second season. What I mean by that is, while CMB is a great defender and can hold his own against fives, guarding them every time he was on the court could’ve taken a major toll on his body.
That’s why it’s so great to hear Rajakovic talking about playing him way more and in different roles. CMB is one of the most special defenders in the league even after just one season because he can block shots, protect the rim, rebound, get stops on the perimeter, and switch one through five. But having him share the court with Jak puts him in way less of a box defensively. He can be a stopper on the perimeter when Kawhi Leonard or Scottie Barnes isn’t on the court, and the weak-side rim protector Poeltl needs next to him at this stage of his career.
The biggest takeaway from Toronto’s frontcourt after one preseason game was that Poeltl’s foot switchability looked bad and his foot speed looked slower than ever. Having him as the only big on the court all season will result in a ton of points in the paint being given up, but Murray-Boyles can change that.
By deploying them together, Poeltl’s job is so much easier. Instead of worrying about being exploited on the perimeter in switches, he has a versatile big next to him who can handle those scenarios and let him focus on rim protection and rebounding. To me, Murray-Boyles is at his best as the help-side rim defender, so he can also focus on being a versatile weapon on the perimeter, and playing with Poeltl can make that possible for him while also benefiting Jak.
Allowing him to play more at forward, instead of as the big sitting in the post or crashing the glass, will develop his on-ball game more. CMB is a gifted passer with an elite IQ, so giving him a bigger role on offense this season would be huge for his development, and getting him on the court with Poeltl more would help make that happen.
When you have a young player as special as CMB, the last thing you need to do as a coach is put them in a box or one role. Sure, from a depth-chart point of view, the Raptors should primarily play CMB when Jak is off the court, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only time he can play. If Rajakovic gives Poeltl 26 minutes a night, that leaves only 22 minutes at center for Murray-Boyles; that’s not enough. So, as a coach, working him in for another 6–10 minutes at the forward spots will make this team better while developing your best young player.
It’s a win-win.
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