In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.

Pre Draft

• Waiving Javon Freeman-Liberty's non guaranteed contract

• Trade Jakob Poeltl and Jaden McDaniels for Chris Paul, on a partially guaranteed contract, and a 2026 Warriors FRP lottery protected

  • Explanation: Raptors look to add more shooting this offseason so offload the Poeltl contract and are able to bring back a FRP despite Poeltl's value decreasing since acquiring him. They have the option to release Chris Paul by January 9th and only paying 20 million or trading him before then or keeping him and allowing his money to come off the books at the end of the season.

• Trade Bruce Brown to the Spurs for Keldon Johnson.

  • Explanation: Getting a 25 year old wing with a history of shooting well and driving aggressively for an expiring Brown is a win for a team lacking overall talent.

Draft

• Pick 19 the Raptors select Tyler Smith

• Pick 31 the Raptors select Harrison Ingram

  • Explanation: The Raptors prioritize shooting and size this offseason. By taking Tyler Smith they add a big who could be a long term starter alongside Barnes. While Ingram's shooting is a bit more suspect he could be a nice project that could impact the roster.

Free Agency

• Resign Immanuel Quickley to a 4 year 108 million dollar deal with no options.

• Signing Harrison Ingram to a 4 year 8.5 million dollar deal with the final 2 years as team options.

• Signing Jonas Valanciunas to a 3 year deal worth 26 million dollar deal with no options.

• The 76ers trade Paul Reed, instead of waiving him, for a SRP to the Raptors who use part of their Trade Exception created from the Siakam trade

• Signing Shake Milton to a one year minimum contract.

• Signing Darius Bazley to a one year minimum contract.

The Raptors leave themselves about 2.5 million from the luxury line which could be used in a future CP3 trade.

Start of Season

Starting lineup:

• Immanuel Quickley

• Scottie Barnes

• RJ Barrett

• Keldon Johnson

• Kelly Olynyk

The bench is questionable with CP3 and Valanciunas with a bunch of young guys. Dick, Agbaji, and Smith start the year getting major minutes. However Paul Reed, Boucher and Shake Milton all rotate in depending on lineups and health. Ingram starts the year in the g-league getting reps but struggling to make 3s.

During the season

• The offense becomes a top 5 offense in the league but does struggle on defense. Scottie finally gets shooting around him with nearly everyone in the rotation capable of going off from beyond the arch resulting in him getting an all star bid averaging nearly a triple double. Chris Paul starts the year asking to be traded or released but still shows up and plays for the first 2 months before agreeing to a buyout. Raptors eat a portion of the contract but open a roster spot which they use to add another point guard.