It definitely stings knowing Toronto will have to navigate its upcoming schedule without Kawhi Leonard, who is dealing with knee swelling that’s expected to keep him out for at least a week.
So now the conversation shifts to who can hold the fort down while the Klaw is out. Scottie Barnes will have to shoulder a bigger load and live up to his status as the franchise leader, while supporting pieces like RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Ja’Kobe Walter look poised to play integral roles during this stretch. Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl also have a chip on their shoulders: they’ll need to be better than they’ve shown in their first three games. Toronto’s ability to stay competitive could depend on it.
But beyond the obvious names stepping into bigger roles, who can provide that extra juice when Toronto needs more than its regular contributors? That is where Toronto’s knack for embracing the “next man up” mentality has to prove useful once again. The Raptors will need to lean on their bench (and even some hungry reserves) to fill the gaps and give the team an extra edge, especially as more responsibility and minutes fall to the starters.
Toronto will need its "next men up" to provide a spark with Kawhi Leonard sidelined
Which players am I referring to exactly? For starters, Jamal Shead.
He brings his usual value to Toronto with his knack for drawing offensive fouls and his hard-nosed defense. But I haven’t been impressed by his overall play so far. In more than 20 minutes per game, he’s averaging just 3.7 points on 23.1 percent shooting.
I know Shead isn’t expected to be a major scoring threat, but, as I said in my last piece about Jakob Poeltl, it’s hard to believe he can’t offer more than he has so far. We’ve seen flashes of greater aggression and better offensive flow from him in the past. At the very least, if he isn’t scoring, he needs to provide the steady ball-handling and playmaking this team has come to appreciate. So far, he hasn’t consistently done that — and the pressure is even greater now that he earned a three-year, $24 million extension this past offseason.
Further down the roster pecking order, I’m looking right at our tenacious rookie, Allen Graves, who has looked solid in his limited minutes so far. His offensive rhythm (and getting his three-ball going at the pro level) are still works in progress. But his ability to battle for rebounds, especially on the offensive glass, and provide another defensive presence in the paint will be imperative as Toronto navigates Kawhi Leonard’s absence.
Elsewhere, Jamison Battle will need to knock down some much-needed threes, especially with Toronto struggling early from beyond the arc. Given those concerns, he could take on an even bigger role as one of the team’s most willing and respected shooters.
Then, I expect to see a bit more run for guys like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Alijah Martin during this stretch. I’ve already touched on their preseason flashes and early performances, but TJD gives Toronto a different element at center — one it certainly doesn’t get as much from Jakob Poeltl.
Martin, meanwhile, presents some sneaky upside during this stretch. He’s a willing attacker and slasher, so aggression isn’t the issue. It’s about finding his rhythm, getting high-percentage shots and staying efficient. With more minutes opening up, he could provide an offensive spark similar to the one RJ Barrett brings to the starting lineup, just in a different way.
Toronto may have an undermanned Orlando squad on its hands over the next two games, followed by a West Coast trip to L.A. and Denver. But the pressure is on a lot sooner than the Raptors probably hoped. For the next crop of guys waiting to make their mark, the time is now.
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