The Toronto Raptors couldn’t be happier with the rookie season they got from Collin Murray-Boyles in 2025-26. The former No. 9 pick came onto the scene and provided an immediate impact as a versatile defender, rebounder, and screener.
As the season progressed, he gave fans more of a taste of what type of offensive upside he had and how he fit in long-term. When talks of Brandon Ingram being traded surfaced, some fans assumed it meant a step back for the Raptors and that they would make a move to vault CMB into the starting five. They did the opposite by swinging for the fences and acquiring the man who led this same franchise to its only NBA title in 2019, Kawhi Leonard.
While Leonard’s addition likely puts a hold on CMB starting, at least at his natural position of power forward, it may be the best thing possible for his development. Leonard’s arrival will only open the door for Murray-Boyles to make an offensive leap, as Toronto won't need as much from CMB defensively.
CMB's offensive game could develop much faster with Leonard's return
By the end of the postseason, one thing was clear: Scottie Barnes was Toronto’s primary and best defender, and Murray-Boyles was on that list right after him. What we saw him do as a 6-foot-7 forward against the twin towers of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen was beyond impressive. Whether it was beating them on the defensive glass, pushing them around in the post, or rotating from big to big to ensure no easy baskets were made, he did everything.
In that seven-game series with Cleveland, CMB averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 stocks (steals + blocks) per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
If Kawhi wasn’t acquired, Murray-Boyles would be stuck in that same role, which isn’t a bad thing, but it would have stunted his growth offensively.
Depending on how you view this Raptors team, you could even argue Murray-Boyles is higher on the defensive ladder. Even if that’s the way you view things, having Leonard behind him takes a ton of weight off his shoulders and will make his growth as a scorer, playmaking hub, and floor spacer that much easier.
Obviously, no one should expect CMB to enter year three and leap into a 20- or even 15-point-per-game scorer. However, he has way more room to grow now that he doesn’t have to help anchor the defense with just Barnes this upcoming season. He’ll have more energy to drill his open threes, attack weaker matchups off the dribble, and be the offensive hub he flashed in college and last season.
Going back to his time at the University of South Carolina, Murray-Boyles hasn’t really been in a scenario where he wasn’t looked at as a defensive anchor. This may be why he never took a crazy offensive leap in college, but now the Raptors have positioned him to take the first step toward becoming a real problem offensively.
If CMB’s rookie season didn’t already give you enough to be excited for in year two, the addition of Kawhi Leonard has to. Adding another high-level defender to the mix has given Murray-Boyles the runway to spread his wings and take that next step offensively.
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