After an overall successful season that saw the Raptors finish fifth in the Eastern Conference and take the Cavs to Game 7 in the first round, it’s time to think of the future in Toronto and how this team can continue to grow until it’s ready to compete for a title.
Offensive upgrades and better guard play have dominated those discussions, and for good reason. The Raptors need more offensive creation and 3-point shooting, and their lack of guard depth was exposed when Immanuel Quickley missed the playoffs with a hamstring injury. But head coach Darko Rajakovć also mentioned a different skill the Raptors need in his end-of-season interview: paint protection.
“I think we did a good job this year with defense and the way we’re guarding the ball,” Rajaković said. “I think us having more of a paint protection is something that we can take a look at.”
NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the Raptors may be interested in poaching Mitchell Robinson from the Knicks.
“Teams regularly relayed to me when I’ve asked around about Robinson’s status have pointed to the Bulls, Hornets, Lakers, and Raptors,” Fischer wrote.
Robinson will be a free agent after this season and would certainly address Rajaković’s wish for better paint and rim protection.
Mitchell Robinson is a big presence in the paint
At 7’0” and without a 3-point shot, Mitchell Robinson is a very traditional center in a league that’s increasingly moving away from that archetype. Nevertheless, he has found ways to be impactful and play important minutes for a team that’s currently up 2-0 in the NBA Finals.
Robinson is a very efficient inside scorer, shooting 72.3% from the field, a strong rebounder, and a rim protector. He averaged 1.2 blocks per game in the 2025-26 regular season, but that number was closer to two blocks per game when he played a bigger role not too long ago in the 2022-23 season. Since then, he has dealt with some injuries and had to take a back seat to Karl-Anthony Towns.
Still, he could add a second layer of defense to the Raptors’ rotation. Scottie Barnes was the only player who averaged at least one block per game this season. Jakob Poeltl averaged just 0.7—a significant drop off from 1.2 blocks per game in the 2024-25 season. Having another rim protector on the team would help Barnes, who is asked to wear a lot of different hats on that end of the floor and often defends elite guards or wings while still having to be the team’s best rim protector.
The only question is how pursuing Robinson would impact the Raptors’ already tight finances.
Add us as a preferred source on Google