The Toronto Raptors are currently dealing with significant injuries, forcing them to prepare for key matchups without several players. Thankfully, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and — despite inconsistent play — Immanuel Quickley have returned relatively quickly.
However, they’ll still be without four key rotation pieces in their next game against the Warriors. The team is managing extended absences of Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, along with recent losses of promising young studs Ja'Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles. Last week, in what was perhaps the Raptors' longest injury report of the season — missing six players (seven if you include two-way guard Chucky Hepburn) — Toronto managed to edge out the Pacers with a win despite the absences.
However, these winning outcomes are far from guaranteed. Toronto struggled late against the Lakers, especially after losing Collin Murray-Boyles to his untimely thumb injury and facing rough shooting struggles compared to LA.
Injuries are common in the NBA, sure, but a team's success often hinges on its ability to find quality depth when adversity strikes. While players like Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Shead, and Sandro Mamukelashvili have been tremendous to watch, the Raptors can't rely solely on these guys to carry the team. Attention now turns to others in the Raptors' ranks — such as AJ Lawson, Alijah Martin, Jamison Battle, Jonathan Mogbo, and Gradey Dick — who could step up and provide important support. My Raptors Rapture colleague Daniel O’Connor and I discussed these emerging contributors in our recent pieces.
While Daniel O'Connor and I recognize this group’s talent and hunger to be impactful for Toronto, they’re not exactly players you’d want to rely on heavily as roster gaps widen. I’m not against giving these guys more minutes — it’s valuable experience — but Toronto needs more proven players to ensure consistent performance night after night.
When the going gets tough, who can the Raptors rely on for that extra boost?
While this group is eager, they’re far from high-impact rotation pieces, as many of them continue to find a consistent offensive rhythm. If the Raptors want to make the playoffs, they need to hope the injury bug doesn’t derail their chances. Wouldn’t it be smarter to have an insurance policy in place for such times?
More importantly, the Raptors' frontcourt depth is strained by Jakob Poeltl’s back issues and the recent loss of Collin Murray-Boyles only worsens the situation. With limited options, Toronto will likely rely on Scottie Barnes, Mamu, and possibly Jonathan Mogbo to fill the gap. Although five-man Scottie looked strong in late December/early January, he’s made it clear he prefers playing alongside a true center rather than at the five himself, and who can blame him?
Toronto currently has an open roster spot, which they can fill through free agency, trade, or turning one of their two-way deals into a standard contract. With all the trade rumors swirling around the Raptors, they could find the right “insurance policy” to address their needs.
However, it seems Toronto could be more focused on boosting their star power with players like Ja Morant, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis dominating the headlines. Still, I hope that even in such a move, the Raptors consider adding an extra piece to strengthen either or both areas. There are other players on those rosters — like Jock Landale, John Konchar, Naji Marshall, Jaden Hardy, Keon Ellis, and Drew Eubanks — who could step in immediately and be helpful for Toronto.
If these trade rumors are just smoke and mirrors, the Raptors should prioritize targeting proven veterans with consistent play and valuable NBA playoff experience.