Key Takeaways

• Last season, Toronto’s defense was highly effective in transition, but its halfcourt offense struggled due to limited outside shooting, forcing drivers like Barnes and Barrett to operate in congested spaces late in games.
• Leonard’s outside shooting percentile stood at 38.7% last year, and he has historically been capable of around 41% from three, but his value to the Raptors depends on teammates providing space for him and facilitating ball movement late in shot clocks.
• Assuming a preseason starting lineup of Leonard, Barrett, Barnes, Quickley, and Poeltl, only Leonard and Quickley surpassed league-average three-point accuracy in the prior season, highlighting spacing gaps around the core.
• Barrett has flashed 40% seasons but has not maintained high-volume, consistent three-point success, while Barnes is a career 30.1% shooter from deep and Poeltl’s range ends near the rim, limiting spacing.
• Quickley is capable from deep with a quick release but is streaky and would need to increase attempts to meaningfully impact the team’s 26th-ranked three-point attempts and 21st in percentage from last season.
• Other rotation options like CMB, Walter, Battle, and Shead present mixed shooting profiles and unproven playoff impact, creating uncertainty about depth spacing and late-game offensive efficiency.
• Overall, the Raptors remain dangerous defensively, but achieving elite status against top contenders may require a roster move or a breakout shooting season from younger players to provide reliable offense in pivotal moments.