Like a few other teams, Toronto Raptors were able to obtain talented players in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, both of their rookies have the skills to be stylistic fits on the roster. Not only that, but each of them has the potential to be a high-impact player in the future, shining in both Summer League and during preseason.
One Expectation For Each Toronto Raptors Rookie
With the NBA season right around the corner, now is the time to establish expectations for each prospect’s rookie season. Let’s dive into one expectation for each Raptors rookie for the 2025-26 season.
Collin Murray-Boyles
Expectation: Prove That His Size Won’t Be An Issue
With the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors took South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles. The 6-foot-7 hybrid forward made a name for himself in the pre-draft process by being an excellent interior threat and impactful defender.
Offensively, he utilizes his strength to bully through opponents to the rim. In a similar vein, he can use his driving ability to create opportunities for his teammates. However, the defensive side of the floor is where Murray-Boyles shines the most. Specifically, he is a strong, multi-positional defender who has demonstrated incredible feel and basketball IQ. Those qualities help him be an excellent defensive playmaker, where he can blow up plays by disrupting passing lanes or blocking shots.
Murray-Boyles undoubtedly has the talent to be an excellent two-way force for the Raptors. Nevertheless, he does have major questions he needs to address. The most prominent area where expectations must be met is his ability to prove his size won’t be an issue at either end of the floor. More of a power forward, his 6-foot-7 frame can make it more difficult for him to be the same interior scorer he was during college. Defensively, there will be difficulties guarding taller bigs in the post.
Alijah Martin
Expectation: Prove Himself To Be A Real Three-Point Shooter
In the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Raptors used the 39th overall pick to select Florida fifth-year senior Alijah Martin. Standing at 6-foot-2, Martin’s is a strong defensive guard with shooting upside.
Despite his short stature, Martin has the physicality and power to defend players taller than him. Yet, he still has the quickness to stay in front of other guards. Additionally, he knows how to rotate well when defending off the ball and can be disruptive in the passing lanes because of that. As for offense, he’s a great off-ball mover who operates well in transition. In halfcourt settings, he has shown that he can be a solid ball-handler and flashes of real three-point shooting.
The 23-year-old certainly fits into Toronto’s overall defensive identity. However, the Raptors need spacing around their stars. While Martin himself has shown some potential as an outside shooter, he still has a long way to go in terms of consistency in his shot. To that point, he shot 36.4% from 3 in his collegiate career but shot 35.0% or lower from 3 in three of his five career seasons. If he can prove that he’s a real 3-point threat, he can be an integral part of Toronto’s rotation, serving as a great 3-and-D guard.
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