Raptors Takeaways: Depth reveals out in remaining audition vs. Pistons

NBA pre-season video games are largely inconsequential. But they nonetheless serve a number of distinct functions.

For starters and members of the rotation, it offers an vital runway to get their conditioning game-ready.

“I wanted to get out there and get tired — I still want to get in better shape,” Kawhi Leonard mentioned after his Toronto Raptors re-debut on Tuesday.

New teammates — like Leonard and Co. — additionally work to seek out early chemistry earlier than video games begin to rely in direction of the standings.

Further down the roster, gamers get extra alternatives to showcase themselves than they might through the common season. For these outdoors of the rotation who won’t see the ground in a typical regular-season sport, it is a uncommon probability to make an impression. And then there are the gamers who have been invited to camp to compete for a roster spot. They’re leaving all of it on the ground, preventing to earn an NBA alternative, both from the membership whose jersey they’re carrying or from different onlookers across the league.

The Raptors’ spirited 129-125 loss to the Detroit Pistons of their remaining pre-season sport on Friday was in regards to the latter group, not the previous.

Toronto sat its high 9 rotation gamers (Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Jamison Battle), necessitated by the second evening of an ever-bizarre idea: the pre-season back-to-back.

Luckily, they’d already checked all their bins forward of the exhibition finale. Leonard acquired as much as 23 minutes the evening earlier than, and each different starter performed extra. Even although there have been anticipated hiccups — significantly within the halfcourt — Leonard simplified the Raptors’ offensive course of in a Tuesday bloodbath of gamers who will largely find yourself enjoying for the New York Knicks affiliate in Westchester and drew consideration away from the Raptors’ different high offensive weapon in a slender loss to the true Knicks on Thursday.

So, it was a top quality final probability for the again half of the Raptors’ training-camp roster to audition for a transfer up the pecking order. They rose to the event, too, trailing the Pistons’ starters and full projected rotation by simply seven factors at halftime and preventing tooth and nail till the tip.

Here are the takeaways from the conclusion of the Raptors camp competitors:

Rookie Nineteenth-overall draft decide Allen Graves is in a separate class from the remainder of the Raptors that took the courtroom on Friday.

The high quality of his play will nonetheless dictate the dimensions of his function on a Toronto squad that’s ostensibly aiming for competition this season. But his NBA future is safer as a first-round draft decide and longer-term growth challenge.

The 20-year-old’s shot wasn’t happening in his second pre-season sport on Friday. Graves went 0-for-5 from three-point vary and smoked a few layups, ending 4-for-13 from the ground. But the hustle that defines his sport was nonetheless ever-present.

Seven of Graves’ eight rebounds got here on the offensive glass. And six of his 9 factors got here on putbacks. After passing to a slicing Alijah Martin in the course of the ground, he beelined for the rim, completely anticipating the missed shot’s carom off the rim and slamming it again down. The one-and-done Santa Clara product missed a nook three, however caught together with his personal rebound twice to complete the tip-back.

Graves additionally ran the ground arduous, and Martin whipped a bullet transition move to him underneath the rim. He appeared to have an open layup, however was unable to complete when Ron Holland II flew in with late contact, drawing free throws as an alternative.

And the first-year ahead’s intuitive defensive playmaking capabilities have been on show when he reacted to dam Paul Reed after he appeared to have been gift-wrapped a bucket.

Graves’ effort, IQ and bodily instruments are all there. If his shot begins dropping, he may solidify a spot within the Raptors’ rotation rapidly.

Anytime a participant will get injured, the frequent chorus amongst NBA gamers is a “next man up” mentality. But for among the gamers competing on Friday, it could in all probability take a number of misfortunes to crack the rotation.

Martin, who confirmed out with the Raptors 905 throughout his first skilled season in 2025-26 and was named to the All-NBA G League Third Team, is an exception.

Martin was picked by the Raptors within the second spherical of the 2025 draft, signed a two-year commonplace NBA contract within the low season and is the true subsequent man up in Toronto’s backcourt within the occasion of an damage.

He performed prefer it, with bodily finishes on the rim and bail-out step-back threes in isolation, amounting to a team-high 15 factors within the first half. He confirmed off his outlier athleticism each on high-flying layups and contests towards bigger forwards — he denied John Collins on the summit.

But essentially the most eye-popping play was the one Martin did not make, as he took off from the free-throw line and cocked again for a gargantuan slam earlier than it was ruined by a Cade Cunningham foul.

While the hierarchy is partially fashioned with Martin on the high, the competitors amongst guards who at the moment have roster spots was most compelling.

Fellow second-round decide in the newest NBA Draft, Jaden Bradley, remained a combined bag as he has been all through Summer League and the pre-season.

The 23-year-old Arizona product ran chase motion with Trayce Jackson-Davis — following his personal move and getting a handoff proper again — flowing right into a pick-and-roll the place he arrange the backup massive man completely for one in every of his 5 assists.

But Bradley additionally had 5 turnovers, together with some reckless and ill-advised passes. It stands to purpose that the rookie will spend period of time on project with the 905 in Year 1 to type by way of these sorts of rising pains.

Meanwhile, Malachi Smith, the Raptors’ lone participant at the moment on a two-way contract, placed on a powerful scoring show with quick-trigger threes and artful drives incomes him a team-high 24 factors. The former Brooklyn Net went 4-for-7 from deep and added seven rebounds and three assists.

Toronto’s guard depth may stay fluid. Ja’Kobe Walter and finally even Jamison Battle, AJ Lawson and Martin all leapfrogged Grady Dick final season.

It takes two-ways to make a full NBA roster

Speaking of the Raptors solely having one two-way signed, they’ve two spots open, and one other guard has made a powerful case for one in every of them.

Nimari Burnett has stood out together with his athletic and bodily play all through the pre-season and had his finest sport but Friday evening. He backed down the a lot bigger BBall Paul Reed on a profitable bully drive and splashed 3-of-7 triples. An NCAA nationwide champion with the Michigan Wolverines, Burnett was additionally all around the flooring to finish a powerful 17-point, five-rebound, two-block, two-steal line.

After waiving NBA champion Trey Jemison and one other undrafted guard, Chucky Hepburn, following pre-season accidents, the door could also be open for Burnett to grab a coveted two-way spot.

But the Raptors additionally want extra massive man depth, and the competition there is a bit more fascinating.

The Raptors stay a big staff on the wings however are small at centre.

Trayce Jackson-Davis will play spot centre minutes when Murray-Boyles is not enjoying small-ball 5, however he stands at simply six-foot-nine, and the Raptors haven’t got one other, bigger choice.

Enter seven-foot-five centre Jamarion Sharp, whom the Raptors signed to a coaching camp deal on Monday. Sharp was with the Raptors for Summer League earlier than being snatched up on a two-way cope with the Los Angeles Clippers, however was subsequently launched earlier than their coaching camp started. He can be the tallest lively NBA participant if he made a roster.

The 25-year-old’s motion leaves lots to be desired, however he’s a formidable rim protector. Sharp gained G League Defensive Player of the Year final yr after main the event circuit with 159 blocks — over 4 per sport. He has apparent flaws, however the potential of his body and loud main talent alone current intrigue.

The different potential choice can also be difficult by well being. After spending Summer League with the Raptors and signing a training-camp deal, Nate Bittle has remained with the staff all through camp regardless of being in a strolling boot on account of a foot damage.

However, the seven-footer was a summer time standout together with his 44 per cent three-point capturing and savvy defence rapidly catching consideration. Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy reported that Bittle had a follow-up appointment on Wednesday and might be out of the strolling boot if all went properly, however there’s been no replace since.

Jackson-Davis remains to be the nominal backup centre. He feasted towards the again of the Pistons’ bench for 18 second-half factors, fuelled by a 12-of-13 efficiency from the free-throw line. But Sharp will surely increase the typical top, whereas Bittle might be the stretch-five that the Raptors’ fanbase has lengthy coveted.

Stocking Mississauga’s cabinets

Many of the gamers that took the ground for the Raptors on Friday will wind up enjoying within the G League this season, and 5 particularly are more likely to be a part of the 905.

Burnett, Sharp, Bittle, Tyson Degenhart and Tyreke Key all have signed Exhibit-10 offers, which provide extra monetary incentives if gamers are waived and be a part of a membership’s G League affiliate. Degenhart and Key each adopted the identical path final season. Ajax, Ont., native Jalen Celestine was additionally added on a coaching camp deal on Friday with “an eye towards the 905,” per Murphy.

And if Burnett, Sharp and Bittle do not signal two-way contracts — which might permit them to freely transfer between the 905 and Raptors for as much as 50 NBA video games — they might take the identical route.

Key may be a sneaky choice for one of many two-way spots, as he shot 40 per cent from three with the 905 and was awarded a normal NBA deal within the waning days of the 2025-26 common season, however didn’t seem in a sport.

Andre Jackson Jr. and one other 905 returnee, AJ Hoggard, already signed and have been waived from their Exhibit-10 contracts, making them seemingly 905ers, too.

All groups should finalize their rosters forward of NBA opening day by 5 p.m. ET on Monday.