Raptors Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Brown, Robinson, Towns, Raptors

February 26th, 2025 at 6:18pm CST by Rory Maher

Celtics star Jaylen Brown suffered a bone bruise in his left quad during Tuesday’s victory over Toronto. After the game, he told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscriber link) that he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d play in Wednesday’s back-to-back in Detroit.

After initially being listed as questionable, Brown was later ruled out against the red-hot Pistons, who have won seven straight games, one more than Boston’s current streak. Center Luke Kornet will also miss his second straight game due to personal reasons, per the Celtics (Twitter link).

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

The Knicks are optimistic that Mitchell Robinson will be able to make his season debut this weekend, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv. New York plays two games this weekend, on Friday vs. Memphis and on Sunday against Miami. Assuming he keeps progressing without issue, either date is a possibility for Robinson to make his first appearance of 2024/25 following offseason ankle surgery, according to Begley.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated after Tuesday’s practice that Robinson was “projected to be the starting center on the team.” On Wednesday, Thibodeau clarified that Robinson will not immediately enter the starting lineup — he was referring to before the season began, and presumably before New York’s blockbuster trade for Karl-Anthony Towns, as James L. Edwards III of The Athletic relays (via Twitter).
Speaking of Towns, the Knicks big man was ruled out of Wednesday’s game after having his left knee flare up near the end of Sunday’s loss to Boston. He was initially listed as questionable. Rookie center Ariel Hukporti will get his first career start in Towns’ stead, per Edwards of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Eric Koreen of The Athletic lists several Raptors trends to monitor for the remainder of the season, as well as some to ignore. Koreen is keeping close tabs on Immanuel Quickley‘s three-point volume and accuracy, Gradey Dick‘s defense, and the overall play of Ochai Agbaji. On the other hand, he says the team’s defensive rating and RJ Barrett‘s dip in offensive efficiency aren’t particularly important as the season winds down.

Atlantic Notes: Boucher, Barnes, Holiday, Watford, Reese

February 24th, 2025 at 9:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Chris Boucher‘s name was bandied about before the trade deadline but the Raptors big man was confident he wouldn’t be dealt. He had steady communication with the front office during that time.

“I won’t lie to you, I think it was the most peaceful deadline I had compared to the other years,” Boucher told William Lou of RaptorsRepublic.com. “I was also talking with (general manager) Bobby (Webster) and all of them, and I never thought I was going to be going away. The media says one thing, but really, the GM, and the people around here would have told me if something would have happened, and then I would have been a little bit more concerned.”

Boucher will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, assuming he doesn’t sign an extension before then.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Scottie Barnes was the primary defender on Kevin Durant during the Raptors’ win over Phoenix on Sunday. Durant was limited to 15 points and Barnes told Michael Grange of Sportsnet.com that it wasn’t a fluke. “I think I’m a high-level defender, one of the best defenders in this league,” Barnes said. “I’m able to be able to guard multiple positions, switch, give the ball pressure because I move really well for my size and I’m out there reading things.”
Jrue Holiday will get Tuesday night off when the Celtics visit Toronto. Holiday will be rested in the first game of a back-to-back, Brian Robb of Masslive.com reports. Luke Kornet (personal reasons) will also miss the contest, while reserve center Al Horford (toe) is listed as questionable.
Nets forward Trendon Watford showed off his versatility on Saturday when head coach Jordi Fernandez used him at point guard during crunch time against the Sixers. Watford scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. “He helps you win,” Fernandez told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “And he does that because he’s able to score, but also able to handle and play-make and play four positions, and post-up and make a three. So all those things are super valuable at his size and position.”
The two-way contract that the Sixers gave Alex Reese is a two-year deal, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. The free agent forward signed the contract on Friday.

Checking In On Open NBA Roster Spots

February 24th, 2025 at 12:06pm CST by Luke Adams

There has been no shortage of free agent signings across the NBA since the trade deadline, but several clubs still have at least one open roster spot as we near the home stretch of the season.

Using our roster counts tracker, let’s check in on which teams have openings and which are most likely to fill them in the short term.

Teams with multiple open spots on their standard 15-man rosters:

New Orleans Pelicans
Sacramento Kings

The Pelicans and Kings are both currently carrying 13 players on standard contracts, which teams are permitted to do for up to 14 days at a time or 28 days in total during a season.

New Orleans dipped down to 13 players last Thursday by buying out Javonte Green, which means the club will have until next Thursday (March 6) to get back to 14 players. Two-way player Brandon Boston is considered a strong candidate for a promotion, though he’s still eight games away from his 50-game limit because he has been out since February 8 with a sprained ankle.

Sacramento, meanwhile, dropped to 13 players when Daishen Nix‘s 10-day contract expired last Monday night. The Kings need to re-add a 14th man by next Tuesday (March 4) in order to adhere to the NBA’s roster rules.

Teams with one open spot on their standard 15-man rosters:

Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Golden State Warriors
- Note: Two of the Warriors’ 14 players are on 10-day contracts.
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks

The Celtics, Bucks, Timberwolves, and Knicks are all deep into luxury tax territory and may not be in any rush to add a 15th man, since that player would cost exponentially more once tax penalties are taken into account. New York is currently restricted by a hard cap but could sign a player as soon as February 28.

The Hawks and Pacers have enough breathing room below the tax not to worry about surpassing that line, so they may look to add someone sooner rather than later, perhaps on a 10-day contract.

The Warriors, meanwhile, will dip back to 12 players once the 10-day contracts for Kevin Knox and Yuri Collins expire this Friday night. Golden State has some hard-cap issues to navigate for the rest of the season and might not want to get back to 14 players right away.

Teams with full standard 15-man rosters that include one 10-day contract:

Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

These teams each have 14 players on standard contracts and one on a 10-day deal. With one exception, they’re all below the tax line and could continue cycling through 10-day signings or add a player on a rest-of-season contract when their current 10-day deals expire.

The one exception is Dallas. The Mavericks are right up against their hard cap, so once Moses Brown‘s 10-day contract ends, they won’t be able to bring in a new 15th man (or bring Brown back) until April 10.

Teams with an open two-way slot:

Brooklyn Nets
Golden State Warriors

The Warriors will reportedly fill their open two-way slot with Australian guard Taran Armstrong, so the Nets are really the only team with a two-way spot available, having promoted Tyrese Martin to a standard contract last Thursday.

It’s a pretty safe bet Brooklyn will fill that opening at some point before March 4, which is the deadline for two-way signings. You can also count on several other teams promoting, waiving, and signing two-way players before that deadline.

Atlantic Notes: Walker, Anunoby, Robinson, Nets

February 22nd, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Having been born and raised in Pennsylvania, new Sixers guard Lonnie Walker said on Friday that it’s “a surreal moment” to have signed a contract with his hometown team, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I’ve come to plenty of games (in Philadelphia), watching Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand … the list goes on and on,” Walker said. “I’m only an hour and 20 [minutes] from here. I’m not too far. I played for a Philly (AAU) team, as far as Team Final. This is for sure a full-circle moment in my career, and I’m just truly blessed to be here.”

Walker received a two-year, minimum-salary deal that will pay him $780,932 for the rest of this season, with a $2,940,876 team option for 2025/26. According to Pompey, the 26-year-old finalized a buyout with Zalgiris Kaunas, his team in Lithuania, just two hours before his opt-out deadline on Tuesday. It initially appeared as if that deadline would pass without an NBA agreement and he’d finish the season in Europe.

“It’s funny, everyone found out before me,” Walker said. “I was actually sleeping. I got the phone call from my agent. I had about 30 missed calls. I guess it was all over Twitter already. But by that time, my mind was already made as far as being in Europe, finishing the season there.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

In his return from a foot injury that cost him six games, Knicks forward OG Anunoby contributed just five points and zero rebounds and was a minus-23 in 27 minutes on Friday vs. Cleveland. He also grabbed his foot after falling to the court in the third quarter. However, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays, Anunoby said after the blowout loss that his foot felt fine and head coach Tom Thibodeau downplayed the forward’s struggles. “It was about what I thought it would be,” Thibodeau said. “There were some good minutes early, and then there’s some rust he’s got to work through, but I thought he had good energy.”
With Jakob Poeltl sidelined due to a hip injury, Orlando Robinson started at center for the Raptors on Friday against his old team, the Heat, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Robinson was waived by Sacramento last month, but has carved out a modest role in Toronto, having signed two 10-day contracts and a two-way deal with the team. “That’s his NBA ability is perseverance and his work ethic,” said Erik Spoelstra, who coached Robinson in Miami from 2022-24. “He will just continue to grind and work, and that’s why we thought he was a great fit with us and that’s why I always respect guys like that. … I think (Toronto) is a good fit for him here because they do value player development and he’s all about the work. So I continue to root for him.”
Brian Fleurantin of NetsDaily takes a look at some of the major Nets-related storylines to watch for the rest of the season, including whether Cam Thomas can return and finish strong ahead of restricted free agency and which of the club’s young players will take a step forward down the stretch.

Raptors Notes: Barnes, Play-In, Quickley, Ingram

February 21st, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Entering their first post-All-Star game vs. the Heat on Friday, the Raptors held a 17-38 record, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. While fans in Toronto might like to see them finish the season by cementing their spot in the league’s bottom five and positioning themselves for a top pick in the 2025 draft, that’s not Scottie Barnes‘ plan, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.

“They can be excited (about the draft lottery),” Barnes said on Thursday. “I don’t really give a damn about it. I’m trying to go out there and win games, try to possibly make something happen. So, they can try to be excited for that, but my mindset’s on a different place.

“… I look at the standings every day. We’re still in that fight. We still could make something happen. That’s my motivation. When I look at it, I see that we still have a chance. The team, we feel like we still want to win. We feel great going into every single game with the mindset and focus of trying to get better and trying to achieve that goal of winning.”

In a normal season, those sorts of comments from a player on a 17-38 team might be written off as hopelessly optimistic. But in this year’s Eastern Conference, the idea of the Raptors making the play-in tournament isn’t entirely out of the question.

The No. 10 Bulls are just 4.5 games ahead of Toronto and have lost five games in a row. The No. 11 Sixers have dropped six straight. And the No. 12 Nets were plummeting down the standings before winning six of seven prior to the All-Star break. As Grange points out, the Raptors also have – by far – the easiest rest-of-season schedule of any NBA team by winning percentage, with a total of seven games still remaining against Washington, Utah, and Charlotte.

We have more on the Raptors:

Barnes limped off the court and into the locker room near the first quarter of Friday’s game vs. Miami after turning his right ankle, which he sprained earlier this season, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter thread). However, the star forward was deemed available to return to the game.
In the first season of a five-year, $162.5MM contract that raised eyebrows when it was reported last summer, Immanuel Quickley has had to deal with injuries affecting his wrist, pelvis, elbow, and groin and has played just 16 games. As Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes within a profile of the fifth-year guard, Quickley believes missing so much time due to health issues caused him to focus more on being a vocal leader for the team. “I think, if anything, I probably (spoke) maybe even more (than usual), because that’s really the only way you can help,” he said. “So, just try to (help) in any way I can help, especially being a young team — just all the experiences I’ve been through, what I’ve been able to learn. I try to give back to the guys.”
Reacting to the Raptors’ three-year, $120MM extension for newly acquired forward Brandon Ingram, one rival executive tells ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst (Insider link) that he thinks the price was “too expensive” for the former All-Star, who has been limited to 18 appearances this season due to injuries. “I don’t think Ingram gets that deal if he’d have hit free agency, especially the player option, but it depends on how he would’ve finished the season in New Orleans (had he not been traded),” another league executive told ESPN. “They obviously really like him and think he’s a good fit, but they bid against themselves on that deal — and they bid against themselves on Quickley.”
Ingram is still “not close” to playing, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said this week, per Lewenberg (Twitter link). However, the 27-year-old, who has been out since December 7 due to a badly sprained ankle, is doing some light on-court work. “He’s limited with what he can do with his ankle,” Rajakovic said on Thursday. “But his upper body, lifting, we can get on that right now. … I’m hopeful he’ll be able to ramp up his workouts.”

Raptors Sign Jared Rhoden To 10-Day Contract

February 19th, 2025 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have filled the open spot on their 15-man roster by signing guard Jared Rhoden to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release.

Rhoden, 25, was in camp with Toronto back in the fall. When the Raptors waived him at the end of the preseason, he was claimed by the Hornets, who converted him to a two-way deal and kept him him on their roster for about six weeks before cutting him in early December.

After appearing in four games for the Hornets and two for their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, Rhoden has been suiting up for the Raptors 905 since the start of the NBAGL regular season in late December.

The former Seton Hall standout has averaged 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 29.4 minutes per game across 18 appearances for Toronto’s G League affiliate. He has knocked down down 50.7% of his shots from the floor, including 41.9% of his three-pointers.

Rhoden, who also has previous NBA experience for Detroit, will earn $119,972 on his 10-day deal, while the Raptors will carry an identical cap hit. The contract will run through next Friday (Feb. 28), covering the club’s first five games out of the All-Star break. Once it expires, the Raptors will have the ability to sign Rhoden to a second 10-day deal if they choose.

Toronto had been carrying an open spot on its 15-man roster since waiving James Wiseman on Feb. 7.

Raptors’ Ulrich Chomche Out For Season With MCL Injury

February 19th, 2025 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

Raptors center Ulrich Chomche will miss the rest of the season, the team announced today in a press release.

According to the Raptors, Chomche has been diagnosed with a partial proximal MCL tear after injuring his right knee in the third quarter of a G League game last Thursday. He’ll rehab the injury in the hopes of being ready for Summer League in July, per the club.

The 57th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Chomche signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Raptors and entered the season as the youngest player on any NBA roster. The big man, who turned 19 in December, has logged just 32 total minutes across seven NBA games for Toronto, having spent the majority of his rookie year with the Raptors 905 in the G League.

In 33 total outings for the 905, Chomche has averaged 7.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game.

Since they used a draft pick on him and signed him to a two-year deal, the Raptors may simply keep Chomche under contract during his recovery in the hopes that he’ll continue developing this summer and warrant a two-way slot again in 2025/26. Still, it’s worth noting that the deadline to sign two-way contracts is March 4, so if Toronto wants to replace him for the home stretch of this season, it would have to be done by that date.

Eastern Notes: Ingram, Lonzo, Moore, E. Thompson

February 18th, 2025 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

He hasn’t appeared in a game for his new team yet, but Brandon Ingram has already made franchise history for the Raptors, contends Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.

As Lewenberg explains, Ingram is the first All-Star player to “chart a course to Toronto in the prime of his career.” Conversely, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, and DeMar DeRozan were drafted and developed by the Raptors; Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard didn’t view Toronto as a preferred destination when they were traded there; and Hakeem Olajuwon was in his twilight years when he chose to sign with Toronto.

Although it’s unclear whether Toronto was the No. 1 landing spot on Ingram’s wish list, the Raptors were believed to be one of the teams – along with the Hawks – the 27-year-old targeted as an ideal fit, Lewenberg writes. That was backed up by the fact that Ingram quickly signed a three-year, $120MM extension with the Raptors just days after the trade was completed.

That three-year deal will pay Ingram a salary of $38,095,238 in 2025/26 and exactly $40MM in ’26/27, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. The star forward will hold a $41,904,762 player option for the ’27/28 season.

“First thing that I heard [from the Raptors] is they want to make me an All-Star again and I’m going to be a big part of what they do moving forward,” Ingram told reporters last week. “I want to come here and learn. I want to come here and be a sponge, shift the culture, make it a winning culture and come in here and just listen. Do whatever coach (Darko Rajakovic) needs me to do and go out and try to be an example every single day.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

Lonzo Ball‘s new two-year, $20MM extension with the Bulls has a flat year-over-year structure, Hoops Rumors has learned. Ball’s $10MM salary in 2025/26 is fully guaranteed, then Chicago holds a $10MM team option for ’26/27.
Wendell Moore‘s new two-way contract with the Hornets is just a rest-of-season deal, Hoops Rumors has learned. Charlotte’s other two-way players, KJ Simpson and Damion Baugh, are under contract through next season on two-year, two-way contracts. Moore also won’t be eligible for a qualifying offer this summer — because he previously had his 2025/26 rookie scale team option declined, the third-year shooting guard will automatically become an unrestricted free agent.
Ethan Thompson, who has played primarily in the G League since going undrafted in 2021, referred to his new two-way contract with the Magic as a “dream come true,” adding that playing for the organization – including Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic – has “felt like home,” according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (subscription required). “It was a surreal moment,” Thompson said of signing his first NBA two-way contract. “My mom instantly cried. My father is proud; my brother is proud as well. It’s a great thing to be able to share that with them.”

Pacific Notes: Simmons, Bamba, Lakers, Tucker, Suns, Fultz

February 15th, 2025 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

As we detailed on Friday, Ben Simmons‘ debut with the Clippers on Thursday went about as well as it reasonably could have, earning him praise from head coach Tyronn Lue.

Lue wasn’t the only one impressed by the former No. 1 overall pick, who registered 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in his first game for his new team. Simmons’ Clippers teammates spoke after the game about the immediate impact he made on the court, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

“It’s easy to play basketball with smart players,” forward Nicolas Batum said. “That’s why he was the No. 1 pick, that’s why he was an All-Star in the NBA, because he’s a unique player, a very good basketball player. He just needs the right system, the right person to get his confidence back. And I’ve been there. I’ve been in his shoes five years ago. I think he came to the right spot to get it.”

While Batum was never an All-Star like Simmons, his stock was at an all-time low when he joined the Clippers in 2020 due to the perception that he was overpaid on his previous contract, a five-year, $120MM deal with Charlotte. Batum has rebuilt his value in recent years, primarily due to his strong play with the Clippers, and there’s optimism that Simmons can do the same.

“He did everything we asked him to do: Rebound, defend, push the ball in transition, create for others, attack the rim,” center Ivica Zubac said after Thursday’s win over Utah. “When they doubled James (Harden), he was really good flashing in the middle and play-making from there. It was great, man. It was all that we expected and more. I think he played great, and I think he’s going to be huge for us.”

Here’s more from around the Pacific:

If Alex Len had gone through with his initial plan to join the Pacers rather than pivoting to the Lakers, free agent big man Mohamed Bamba likely would’ve been a top target for Los Angeles, Jake Fischer said on a Bleacher Report live stream on Thursday (YouTube link). “I heard this from multiple sources,” Fischer said. “That if Alex Len did go forward and sign with the Pacers, Mo Bamba would have been very prominently considered by the Lakers to fill a spot in that depleted center rotation.” Bamba remains available in free agency for now.
During that same Bleacher Report live stream, Fischer suggested that the Suns are one team to watch for P.J. Tucker if the veteran forward is bought out by the Raptors, which is expected to happen. Tucker has played in Phoenix before, was coached by Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee, and is a Texas alum like Suns star Kevin Durant. Still, Fischer is skeptical that the 39-year-old Tucker will draw significant interest on the buyout market or play a major role for a playoff team this spring.
Injuries have limited Markelle Fultz‘s availability and slowed his development since he entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, but the Kings‘ newest addition said this week that his health isn’t a concern right now, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. “This is the best I’ve ever felt since being in the league,” Fultz told Anderson. “I never had the opportunity to take my time and get healthy, so being able to do that last summer has been great for me. I’m super excited for this opportunity and I’m thankful for it.”

Cavs’ Thompson Responds After Raptors Criticize ‘Disrespectful’ Late-Game Dunk

February 13th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Luke Adams

An otherwise straightforward Cavaliers blowout of the Raptors in Toronto on Wednesday in the teams’ final game before the All-Star break got a little heated in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

With the Cavaliers up by 21 points and holding the ball with the shot clock off, veteran center Tristan Thompson drove to the basket and threw down a two-handed dunk with just 4.1 seconds left in the game to extend the lead to 23 (Twitter video link). As the Raptors inbounded the ball and ran out the clock, the home fans booed Thompson, who was confronted after the final buzzer by Toronto forward Scottie Barnes and guard Jamal Shead.

Following some brief shoving, players and coaches from both teams converged to separate Thompson and the Raptors as the two sides exchanged words. Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic criticized the Cavs big man after the game for what he viewed as an unnecessary exclamation point on Cleveland’s victory.

“I think what Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful,” Rajakovic said (Twitter video link via The Toronto Star). “I’m not going to stand for that, for sure. I’m really glad that our guys, our players – Jamal, Scottie, and everybody else – that they stood up for themselves. I love when my team stands up for themselves. That was no class act.”

While Barnes didn’t speak to the media after the game, Shead agreed with his coach, telling reporters that the play was “a little bit disrespectful to the game of basketball, not just us,” per ESPN.

Raptors forward RJ Barrett noted that it’s “kind of an unwritten rule” not to try to run up the score in that situation, and even Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t exactly come rushing to the defense of his player.

“I’m not sure what he was thinking,” Atkinson said, according to ESPN. “Sometimes, though, you’re playing the game, and you just have a reaction. I know with Tristan, there’s no bad intention there. I think just sometimes you’re playing, and the goal of the game is to score. Unfortunate.”

For his part, Thompson – a Toronto native who has played almost exclusively in garbage time for the 44-10 Cavs this season – took to Twitter on Thursday to respond to Rajakovic’s comments and explain his actions.

“You wanna full court press with under a minute left in the game when you get cracked by 30 this will happen to you,” Thompson wrote. “Lose for draft lottery and be happy buddy boy. Hopefully you and most of your guys see the light at the end of (GM) Bobby (Webster) and (president) Masai (Ujiri‘s) long term plan. Bless up stay warm in MY CITY.”

While it’s possible the brief post-game confrontation will result in a fine or two, it didn’t rise to the level to warrant a suspension for any of the players involved.

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