While much of the current fanfare and focus has been on the outcome of this Kawhi Leonard trade saga, you can't forget the other key pieces of this Raptors core. Without a doubt, soon-to-be sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles is an important player to keep an eye on as we move forward.
CMB had an impressive rookie season, despite the on-paper stats not looking particuarly striking. Murray-Boyles played in 57 games, earning 22 starts, and averaged 8.5 points on a solid 57.9% shooting from the field. He also added 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and nearly a steal and a block per game (0.9 each) in 21.9 minutes per game.
And CMB’s knack for surprising me only continued into the 2026 playoffs, where he truly shined as one of the Raptors’ key contributors. With the bright stage and even stepping into a magnified role in place of a dwindling Jakob Poeltl, Murray-Boyles turned up his game to an average of 14.4 points on 65.6% shooting. He also showed further improvements across the board with 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes of action during that hard-fought seven-game series.
At year's end, it would’ve been a delight to see CMB get that nod on the All-Rookie First Team, but he still managed to crack the All-Rookie Second Team — a feel-good honor for his strong efforts nonetheless and a sign that Toronto’s front office hit a banger of a lottery pick.
So, as CMB heads into his second season with Toronto, what are the expectations moving forward?
After his solid playoff run, discussions about slotting CMB into the starting five have become a key storyline to ponder. If that’s not the case, then there’s definitely some validity to considering CMB as a potential top Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Elsewhere, questions about CMB’s offensive game taking another leap (especially with Kawhi Leonard’s expected arrival) has become another central angle to watch for his sophomore season.
There’s still some work to do before Collin Murray-Boyles becomes a truly well-rounded offensive player (the defense, of course, goes without question), and perhaps the most glaring area for growth is the need to develop a consistent, reliable three-point shot. In CMB, we’re talking about a player who came into the league as a non-shooter.
At South Carolina, Murray-Boyles averaged just 26.5% from three on about one attempt per game. Overall, he took 34 three-pointers in his final year with the Gamecocks but only made nine — so it wasn’t exactly a reliable weapon in his tool box. Honestly, I think part of my hesitation about CMB’s fit with the Raptors came from troubling NBA Draft Combine footage where he was shooting poorly from beyond the arc. It looked like Toronto was adding yet another negative floor spacer, despite getting a prototypical Raptors darling in every other sense.
In his rookie year with the Raps, Murray-Boyles actually posted an acceptable 34.0% from three, but on just 0.9 attempts per game. That’s a small sample size, so it doesn’t tell us much about true volume or consistency. Still, his jump from college to the pros (50 three-point attempts and 17 makes) was progress, even if slow. CMB remains very much in that work-in-progress shooter category for now, but based on recent Raptors social media posts highlighting his offseason training, it looks like his jump shot is becoming a lot more crisp and improved heading into what will be a crucial year for Toronto.
If Collin Murray-Boyles can become a steady shooter, it will only boost the Raptors’ potential
Sooo green 🤧 @boyles_murray pic.twitter.com/CZQdcv2W06
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 11, 2026
As a natural lefty, his shot might look a little clunky to some at first glance. But after watching this tape (even if it’s just selective footage to boost his stock), I have to admit I’m pretty impressed by the fluidity in his developing jumper and a better rhythm with his shots. While I know this kind of progression is common for basketball players in the offseason (I still remember being fooled by those Ben Simmons three-point training videos), it’s still a promising sign that improvements in this area could be key for CMB’s role in the team’s gameplan moving forward.
You don’t need me to tell you how crucial the upcoming 2026-27 season will be for Toronto. With the loss of a spacing element in Sandro Mamukelashvili, and the potential to somewhat fill that gap with Collin Murray-Boyles, this could be another major win for the Raptors. CMB already helps improve the Raptors’ defense, and if he can also boost their three-point shooting and efficiency, it would be a huge plus.
That’s an optimistic vision for the organization and something the Raptors faithful can get behind.
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