How RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl can fit into Raptors’ future plans

GM Webster says Poeltl looks refreshed heading into training camp. Big man will be a big key this season.

Published Sep 25, 2026  •  4 minute read

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks is fouled by Jakob Poeltl of the Toronto Raptors and RJ Barrett during a game in 2025. Getty Images

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The return of Kawhi Leonard to Toronto also means the return of high expectations.

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The Raptors won at least 50 games five straight times starting in 2015, including 58 before 16 more in the playoffs with Leonard in tow in 2018-19.

Things weren’t easy for Canada’s only NBA franchise for much of Leonard’s time in Los Angeles, but they already had taken a major step in finishing 10 games over .500 last season and nearly upsetting the heavily favoured Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs.

Now Leonard is expected to help them approach 50 victories again (Las Vegas has the team’s over/under for wins at 45.5, we’d take the over, assuming decent health for the squad, even in an improved Eastern Conference).

But Raptors general manager Bobby Webster has never been a fan of making big pronouncements and that didn’t change in his season-opening media availability on Thursday.

“We’re not going to get into expectations. If I think back to last year, I said the most important thing for this group was: Can we compete every night? Will we compete for 48 minutes? I felt comfortable saying that (that) group had a lot of fight,” Webster said. “That’s what you saw over the course of the season.

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“I think the expectation this year is: Can we win every night? Does this group go into every night thinking that we’re the better team and we have a chance to win this game? That’s how I view this group—they’re going to be competitive, they’re going to fight, and now they believe that they’ll win.”

On many nights, the Raptors will have the two most-talented players on the floor in Leonard and Scottie Barnes. That goes a long way in the NBA where individual abilities are more important than in other sports where deep playoff runs are forged from both elite talent and deep rosters.

Webster and his staff have built an intriguing group. Leonard and Barnes are the blue chippers, but Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter have a chance to be exceptional too, similar to how Leonard and Kyle Lowry led the way in 2018-19, with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby taking significant steps toward becoming game changers themselves.

Veterans like Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl will be keys too, as well as third-year point guard Jamal Shead and rookie Allen Graves.

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And Webster made it clear when he said Leonard’s contract extension opened a two- or three-year window of contention, at minimum, that more would and could be done to help improve the roster.

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“It’s never final. That’s part of the game,” Webster said. “But I think we’ve been disciplined over the last few years to not (empty their entire war chest of assets like draft picks). We feel like we still have a number of assets if we need to make additional deals.

“I think we have a first-round pick in each of the next four years (eligible to be traded, even though two were sent out to the Clippers for Leonard). That’s probably important to note. We’re about a million over the (luxury) tax, similar to last year. You see how it goes. You can get under it between now and then, or you can also add to it if you felt like the team was in position (ie. near the top of the conference).

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“So I think the big one was: If we want to go for it, we still can go for it. Maybe that’s the distinction — just a bit of a swing — but there’s definitely more left on the bone (in terms of pieces to be dealt for upgrades if needed).

Speaking of which

Which brings us to Barrett, the local product, once the No. 3 overall pick of the draft, twice Toronto’s leading scorer.

Now, even after making one of the most memorable shots in franchise history, Barrett’s future is unclear. He’s entering the final year of his contract and, like DeMar DeRozan before him, is potentially an imperfect, though extremely popular fit with these revamped Raptors.

Despite what Webster said, there aren’t a ton of viable avenues to making a follow-up trade of significance happen.

Poeltl has no value unless he proves his wonky back is sound. It’s hard to imagine Murray-Boyles or Walter would be made available. Barrett seems like the most likely bet to be moved this season, even though it would be tough to see that happen, just like it was hard to see DeRozan go.

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Webster was asked specifically whether Leonard’s extension and the team’s high payroll have any impact in the ability to re-sign Barrett and mostly side-stepped the question, pivoting to Rogers, now the sole owners of the team and the sporting conglomerate.

“No, I think ownership has been incredibly supportive. Anytime we want to make a go for it financially, they’re very supportive,” Webster said.

How’s everyone doing?

Asked by the Sun about the health of Poeltl, the team boss said a reset has been beneficial.

“Jak looks good. Obviously time will tell as we get into training camp, but he’s in good spirits and good shape,” Webster said. “Like anybody can appreciate, coming home is good for anyone. He’s come back with motivation and willingness to keep his body as healthy as he possibly can.”

How healthy exactly that is could go a long way to determining just how good this group will be.

@WolstatSun

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