As the Toronto Raptors officially put the final touches on their preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 NBA season, the roster picture is largely coming into focus. Following the blockbuster acquisition of superstar Kawhi Leonard and tight financial limitations near the first apron, the front office has streamlined the group as training camp approaches.
While the starting lineup and primary rotation pieces under head coach Darko Rajaković are all but solidified—featuring heavyweights like Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley—the fierce battle for end-of-bench minutes remains wide open.
As the team prepares to finalize a 14-man standard roster ahead of opening night on Wednesday, October 21st, a handful of players find themselves fighting to carve out a meaningful role. Here is a breakdown of the five Raptors facing the most questionable roles heading into training camp.
1. PG Jaden Bradley
After being selected 50th overall in the NBA Draft, Bradley earned a significant vote of confidence when the front office converted his initial two-way arrangement into a standard four-year deal, securing the 14th spot on the active roster. However, translating that contract security into regular playing time will require a massive defensive commitment. If Bradley can lock in and bring the same tenacious, disruptive energy on the ball that Jamal Shead provides, he could quickly carve out a steady reserve role in the backcourt rotation.
2. SG Alijah Martin
The front office showed clear belief in Martin by handing the young guard a two-year, $4.75 million standard contract back in July following a promising rookie campaign. The primary hurdle for Martin is a simple numbers game: with limited minutes available for sub-6-foot-2 guards off the bench, he is locked in a direct battle with Jaden Bradley for reserve guard duties. Having a year of familiarity in Rajaković’s system gives Martin an edge, but he will need to leverage his defensive hustle and turnover generation to cement his spot in the nightly rotation.
3. C/PF Trayce Jackson-Davis
By picking up his team option, the Raptors signaled that they view Jackson-Davis as a viable insurance policy and third-string center. Though his minutes have been scarce since arriving from Golden State, the front office clearly values his interior depth. With Jakob Poeltl anchoring the middle, Jackson-Davis’ immediate path to minutes is blocked, but with this being the final year of his current deal, he remains a name to watch as a potential trade chip when league-wide roster movement heats up during the season.
4. C Trey Jemison III (Two-Way)
Jemison provides an intriguing blend of size and verticality to Toronto’s frontcourt depth. Having bounced around several stops across the league—including stints with the Lakers, Knicks, Grizzlies, and Wizards—Jemison is looking to prove he can stick. While he will likely spend the majority of his time developing with the Raptors’ G League affiliate (Raptors 905) on a two-way deal, his sheer size makes him the first man up if the injury bug hits Toronto’s frontcourt rotation.
5. SG Malachi Smith (Two-Way)
Rounding out the roster’s two-way slots alongside Jemison and Chucky Hepburn, Smith finds himself fighting an uphill battle near the bottom of the guard pecking order behind Alijah Martin, Jaden Bradley, and Hepburn. However, Smith brings legitimate offensive punch. During limited action with the Brooklyn Nets last year, he flashed impressive efficiency, posting 8.3 points per contest while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and an elite 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. If Rajaković and the coaching staff prioritize floor-spacing and scoring punch from the end of the bench, Smith could seize a surprising window of opportunity.
Do you think Jaden Bradley or Alijah Martin will emerge as the primary backup guard off the bench for Toronto this season?
