The Toronto Raptors have a ton of fun storylines that fans will be following with Kawhi Leonard's impending arrival, Scottie Barnes' next step, and the team's center rotation, just to name a few.
But when the ball gets thrown up and the Raptors season tips off, the storyline I’ll be locked in on is Allen Graves’ development. Ever since Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster arrived in Toronto, the Raptors have done an exceptional job of drafting and developing talent. Some notable examples include Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, and Fred VanVleet.
With Graves, the Raptors are getting a Swiss Army knife forward who checks a ton of boxes and fits the possession-extender style of forward they have drafted over the past several years. Given his archetype, Graves is one of those players who fit into several roles and can be flexed throughout Toronto’s rotation and lineup.
While that type of flexibility may influence head coach Darko Rajakovic to throw Graves into the fire from day one, patience should be the approach the Raptors take with No. 22.
Patience is key for Allen Graves
Coming into next year, the Raptors' second unit is expected to look like some variation of Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Jamison Battle. That’s a nine-man rotation, which, for someone like Rajakovic, is uncommon given his track record over his time with the Raptors. This opens the door for Graves to be part of the frontcourt alongside CMB, but he shouldn’t be thrown into that spot from day one.
The Raptors' lone free-agent acquisition was Kyle Anderson for exactly this reason: to fill that role, which Graves can eventually play, and to help groom him into a great player. Both Graves and Anderson have similar styles that can play both forward spots and the small ball five, defend well, rebound, pass, and space the floor.
So from day one, if Rajakovic opts against playing Graves, Toronto won’t be hurting.
Graves has shown a ton of upside during the Raptors' summer league run in Las Vegas, including a huge debut in which he scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. But he isn’t likely to see those same touches or usage at the NBA level, especially not at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Bobby Webster should put Graves in the G League with the 905, let him grow and get touches, and ease him into being a full-time rotation piece for Toronto. Using the remaining gas in Anderson's tank through the first half of the season gives Graves the time needed to develop and sharpen his tools before he’s thrown into the rotation.
We see young players on playoff-caliber teams thrown into the fire from day one, struggle, see their confidence take a hit, and sometimes even make their rookie seasons write-offs. The Raptors are known for easing young talent into the league, and that approach shouldn’t change with Allen Graves. He isn’t like Scottie Barnes or CMB, who were top picks, and he still needs time to figure out where he fits in the structure of an NBA system.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Graves' rookie season can be a massive success for the Raptors, but that success doesn’t need to come in October—it needs to come when the games matter. The goal for the coaching staff and front office should be to ease Graves into things and have him prepped and ready for the second half of the season.
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