There is undoubtedly a mix of excitement and jitters hanging over Raptors Nation right now, especially in light of the franchise’s decision to appoint general manager Bobby Webster as head of basketball operations — effectively stepping into the role and responsibilities left vacant after Masai Ujiri’s departure.
But just because Webster is stepping into the top role doesn’t mean the Raptors will slow their chase for greatness. I’m not implying they’ll go all-out recklessly to win another championship immediately, but the latest from NBA insider Jake Fischer suggests Toronto is undeniably a team — if not the team — to watch as we approach the 2025-26 season.
NBA insider expects Raptors will be 'buyers' in the 2025-26 season
Revisiting Fischer's Bleacher Report livestream on August 20, he shared his thoughts on the Raptors' future outlook:
"But I have the Raptors earmarked already entering this year. It's super early — it's August 20th — but when we get closer to December 15th and the February trade deadline, I have the Raptors already earmarked as a buyer. Now, if things go awry, if there's unfortunately some injury misfortune and what have you, maybe the Raptors don't fully go that direction. But if everything goes as intended, if they are faring night after night in the standings as they hope to be, as they intend to be, I've got the Raptors as a buyer entering this season right now — a team that's going to continue to look to get better and improve in the Eastern Conference."Jake Fischer, Aug 20, 2025
Without getting our hopes up too soon, I can definitely see where Fischer is coming from with his statement. The Raptors, despite still flying under the radar and being somewhat underappreciated, find themselves in circumstances — especially in the wake of the Bobby Webster news — that could turn them into a team capable of shocking the league with bold, win-now moves.
A famous Samoan werewolf once said, "All gas, no brakes," and I like to think the Raptors, much like Fischer alluded to, will be eager to get those wheels turning quickly in the early stages of this upcoming season. I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume the Raptors will be laser-focused on being full steam ahead, as Raptors Rapture’s Jack Simone suggests in his latest piece: the East is wide open for anyone to make their mark, so why not Toronto?
From there, they'll decide how much more they’ll lean into this winning vision — one that was largely propelled by the polarizing, yet significant, splash move to acquire Brandon Ingram. December is right around the corner (though I dread the snow that comes with it), and it will mark the starting point for the Raptors organization to evaluate and decide how to move forward with their true vision.