The Toronto Raptors will be entering the 2026 NBA Draft coming off one of their better seasons in quite a while.
The Raptors finished 46-36 in 2025-26 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2022. They took the Cleveland Cavaliers to a deciding Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs. Scottie Barnes earned his second All-Star nod and really elevated his performance during the postseason. The Raptors’ unconventional rebuilding process looks like it paid off.
Now, the franchise is looking to build up its current core, specifically around Barnes. The draft will be an essential part of that task.
Most of Toronto’s cap space is currently tied to its current starting five — Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl. Improving the roster will rely on the Raptors either moving players or acquiring more talent via the draft.
Raptors Draft Picks:
- Round 1 — No. 19
- Round 2 — N0. 50
Raptors Draft Needs:
Toronto possesses a clear frontcourt of the future in Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. The Raptors finished fifth overall in defensive rating, per Basketball-Reference. The Barnes and CMB combo were an essential reason why. To improve, the Raptors must bring more scoring pop on the perimeter alongside the two young forwards.
The Raptors were toward the bottom of the league in three-point attempts (26th), makes (26th), and percentage (21st). The team’s efficiency stats and offensive rating were both middle of the pack in the league.
Specifically, guard remains Toronto’s biggest priority to address during the draft. Barrett is entering the last year of his deal. The same goes for the team’s recent high-first-rounder in Gradey Dick.
Raptors Draft Targets:
Meleek Thomas — Guard — Arkansas
On paper, Thomas brings the best of both worlds to the Toronto Raptors.
In his one year with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Thomas averaged 15.6 points per game and provided secondary scoring next to Darius Acuff Jr. That includes from the three-point line, where he made nearly 42% of his 5,3 attempts per contest.
But he isn’t just a scorer. At 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Thomas is big and fast enough to become an addition to what is already an elite Toronto defense.
Isaiah Evans — Guard — Duke
Isaiah Evans of the Duke Blue Devils brings a similar profile to that of Thomas to the table.
Evans played two seasons at Duke, but took a leap this past year. His scoring doubled, and his role dramatically increased. But his efficiency stayed largely the same.
The three-point shooting is promising for Evans. He took a career-high 7.1 attempts per game and made 36% of them. He made 38% on high volume across two years.
But the most intriguing part of Evans is his potential to be more than just a perimeter shooter.
He moves off-ball, draws the attention of defenses, and will attack. He won’t be the number-one creator, but Evans can certainly be a part of a successful offense.
Koa Peat — Forward — Arizona
Admittedly, this is more of a wildcard option for the Raptors in the draft. That said, Koa Peat could bolster what is already a very intriguing frontcourt for the Toronto Raptors.
At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, Peat brings both size and finesse to the table. It’s especially true on offense, where he can either post up or occasionally knock it down from the outside. In today’s game, multi-position forwards are a top commodity, and Peat is the best one that’s available around pick No. 19.
If picked, that also allows Toronto to boast a core of Barnes, Murray-Boyles, and Peat. Toronto can maintain its defense, be extra versatile on offense, and have quality minutes at the frontcourt from tip-off to the final buzzer.
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