The Toronto Raptors enter the 2026 offseason with momentum from a 46-win campaign but little financial flexibility. The club finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and extended the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round despite late-series injuries to Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley.
Unexpected Turnaround on the Court
General manager Bobby Webster opened 2025-26 above the luxury-tax line amid doubts about a roster that had produced only 25 and 30 victories the prior two years. Skepticism faded once play began:
- Brandon Ingram led the team in scoring, earned an All-Star spot and provided the half-court shot creation the club had lacked.
- Scottie Barnes also made the All-Star Game, excelling as a playmaker and defender.
- Immanuel Quickley, healthier after an injury-marred season, paced Toronto in three-pointers.
- With Jakob Poeltl limited by back issues, minimum-salary veteran Sandro Mamukelashvili and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as reliable front-court options.
- Rookies Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead delivered breakout seasons in supporting roles.
Toronto’s starting five of Barnes, Ingram, Quickley, RJ Barrett and Poeltl posted a +7.6 net rating over 354 minutes, helping the team outperform preseason forecasts.
Cap Crunch Looms
The NBA projects a $165 million salary cap for 2026-27. Barnes, Ingram, Quickley, Barrett and Poeltl are owed a combined $163.4 million, leaving almost no room for additional spending before luxury-tax payments.
Keeping all five starters remains an option, but the front office is expected to scrutinize every contract except Barnes’s before committing to the group long term.
Source: Hoops Rumors
