It was certainly a transformative 2025 trade deadline for the Toronto Raptors. After fans had wondered endlessly which direction this front office was going to take in building the team's future, they made a clear statement in trading for Brandon Ingram. No, there won't be years and years of waiting around to get back in the playoff picture. Toronto made it very clear that they intend to be competitive in 2025-26.
With this new version of the roster on their hands, there will be plenty for Darko Rajaković and the coaching staff to figure out, but having Ingram will undoubtedly make their lives easier. A veteran scorer who can play 30 minutes a night will give the Raptors a boost as they continue to build, and Ingram is not expected to suit up this season, meaning the Raptors can continue to position themselves for a favorable lottery pick as well.
However, we already know that Ingram will not be the end-all, be-all for this team. He will be a nice piece to get this group off the group and get them back in the mix for a playoff spot next season, but Toronto will still have some very real problems even with Brandon's services. They are a roster that still leaves a lot to be desired from a three-point shooting perspective.
The Raptors are lacking three-point shooting
With the sharpshooting Kelly Olynyk now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Raptors have no players on their roster averaging over 40% from three-point territory this season. Their current best marksman from deep by the numbers is Jamison Battle, who plays just 15.2 minutes per night and shoots it at 39%.
For Toronto to make that leap and get back to the level they want to be at, something will have to change in the three-point shooting category. Let's think about their likely starting lineup for next season if Ingram starts and everyone is healthy. The Raptors will likely roll out with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl as their first five on the floor.
Poeltl is a total non-threat from beyond the arc. Barnes is a below-average shooter from three, while Barrett and Ingram are average three-point marksmen at best. That leaves Quickley as the most prolific shooter from outside in the starting five, as he holds a 37% mark both this season and for his career from deep. In the modern NBA, starting this many non-shooting threats is going to create some problems.
The Raptors are going to have to get the personnel that allows them to play more five-out lineups and be able to punish opponents for sagging off their shooters. This is the formula for success in this league in 2025. Toronto is not going to become a true contender in the East without modernizing its roster a bit. Getting affordable shooters to begin to open up this offense will have to be one of the top priorities for the front office this summer.