Look, the 2025-26 NBA season has basically turned into a laboratory experiment in Toronto. If you haven't been keeping a close eye on the Toronto Raptors basketball roster lately, you might not even recognize the core group. It's not just the "Scottie Barnes Show" anymore, though he’s still the sun everything revolves around.
The biggest vibe shift? Brandon Ingram.
Acquiring him was a massive gamble by Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster, but as we roll through January 2026, the payoff is starting to look real. The Raptors are no longer that "scrappy but can’t score in the half-court" team. They’ve got actual, high-level offensive gravity now. Honestly, it’s a relief.
The New Hierarchy: Who’s Actually Running the Show?
It starts and ends with Scottie Barnes. He’s currently averaging about 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Those aren't just empty stats; he’s playing like a guy who realized he’s 6'7" with a 7'3" wingspan and can just bully people. But the roster balance has changed.
Last year, the spacing was... well, it was bad. Now, with Immanuel Quickley (16.5 PPG) acting as the primary engine and Ingram (21.9 PPG) as the elite secondary creator, Scottie doesn't have to force every single possession.
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The Core Rotation as of January 2026
- The Big Three: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley. These three eat up the lion's share of the usage.
- The Hometown Hero: RJ Barrett. He’s been a bit banged up lately with a left ankle sprain—missing time in mid-January—but when he’s on, he’s still that downhill force that Toronto needs. He's hovering around 19.6 points per game.
- The Anchor: Jakob Poeltl. He remains the only "true" traditional center getting heavy minutes. His back has been giving him some trouble recently, which has forced Darko Rajakovic to get creative with small-ball lineups.
- The Sniper: Gradey Dick. He’s entering that "make or break" territory in his third season. The shooting is there, but the Raptors need him to be more than just a floor spacer.
Why the Toronto Raptors Basketball Roster is Built Differently Now
Most people get this wrong: they think the Raptors are still in a full rebuild. They aren't. They are in a "re-tooling for contention" phase.
By bringing in a vet like Ingram and keeping Garrett Temple (the only guy on the team born in the 80s!) around for locker room vibes, the front office is signaling they want to win now. They aren't hunting for lottery balls; they’re hunting for a Top 6 seed in the East.
The Rookie Factor: Collin Murray-Boyles
You've got to watch Collin Murray-Boyles. The No. 9 overall pick out of South Carolina has been a defensive revelation. He’s 6'7" but weighs about 245 lbs, meaning he can switch onto guards but doesn't get moved in the post. He’s basically a younger, more athletic version of the "connector" role the Raptors have been obsessed with since the 2019 championship run.
Then there's Jamal Shead. If you like "dog" mentality, Shead is your guy. He’s already carving out a role as the backup point guard, essentially pushing guys like Ochai Agbaji to work harder for their minutes.
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The Depth Chart and Recent Shuffles
The back end of the Toronto Raptors basketball roster has been a bit of a revolving door this month. Mo Bamba was recently waived after a brief stint, which tells you the team is looking for a very specific type of backup big—probably someone more mobile to fit Rajakovic’s system.
Sandro Mamukelashvili has been the primary beneficiary of the Poeltl and Bamba situation. "Mamu" brings a weird, fun skill set. He can pass, he can shoot a bit, and he runs the floor like a deer. He’s become a bit of a cult favorite at Scotiabank Arena.
The "905" Shuffle
Jonathan Mogbo has been racking up the frequent flyer miles between the main roster and the Raptors 905. It’s the classic Toronto development path. They did it with Pascal Siakam, they did it with Fred VanVleet, and now they’re doing it with Mogbo. He’s got elite physical tools but needs the reps that he just won't get while Ingram and Barnes are healthy.
What to Watch for Before the Trade Deadline
We’re approaching February, and that means rumors. The big question: Is this roster "finished"?
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Probably not.
The injury to Chucky Hepburn (meniscus surgery) thinned out the point guard depth, which is why we’re seeing more of Alijah Martin on two-way minutes. Martin has been surprisingly steady, showing that Florida Gators championship DNA. But if the Raptors want a deep playoff run, they might need one more veteran rim protector.
The RJ Barrett Dilemma
RJ has been fantastic in Toronto, but his ankle issues in January 2026 have highlighted a lack of wing depth. When he’s out, the pressure on Ja'Kobe Walter increases significantly. Walter is only 21 and has shown flashes of being a high-level two-way guard, but he’s still learning how to finish through NBA contact.
Actionable Insights for Raptors Fans
If you're following this team, don't just look at the box score. Watch how the gravity changes when Brandon Ingram is on the floor versus when he sits. The "Point-Scottie" experiment is still alive, but it’s much more effective when he has a 20-PPG scorer like Ingram on the wing to kick out to.
- Keep an eye on the injury report: With Poeltl and Barrett dealing with nagging issues, the minutes for Mamukelashvili and Shead are going to be inflated. This is their chance to prove they belong in the long-term rotation.
- Watch the Murray-Boyles development: He is the key to the Raptors' defensive ceiling. If he can become a knockdown corner three-point shooter, he becomes a starter by next season.
- The Trade Deadline: Expect Masai to be active. They have the assets to move if they want to upgrade the backup center position.
The Toronto Raptors basketball roster is finally starting to make sense. It’s a mix of elite high-end talent, hometown heroes, and high-upside rookies. It might be a bumpy ride through the rest of the winter, but the foundation is the sturdiest it’s been since Kawhi left.
To stay ahead, focus on the rotation patterns over the next ten games. If Rajakovic keeps leaning on the small-ball units with Barnes at the five, it's a clear sign the Raptors are moving away from traditional centers entirely. That's a shift that could define the next three years of the franchise.