Ja’Kobe Walter

Raptors Pick Up 2026/27 Options On Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter

The Raptors have exercised their 2026/27 options on the contracts of Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter, according to a team press release.

Dick’s fourth-year option will carry a cap hit of $7,131,511, while Walter’s third-year option will carry a cap hit of $3,811,800. The team had until the end of the month to exercise those options.

Dick started 54 games last season, averaging 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29.4 minutes per night. He was the 13th pick of the 2023 draft.

Walter, who won’t play in the team’s opener due to an illness, averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.2 minutes per game while appearing in 52 contests during his rookie season. He was the 19th overall pick in 2024.

With the addition of Brandon Ingram, Dick will likely come off the bench this season. Dick and Walter will have to fight hard for their rotation minutes.

Raptors Notes: Brown, Ingram, Dick, Walter, Shead

A number of fans in Toronto took exception to comments Bruce Brown made about his time with the Raptors ahead of training camp last week. The veteran guard, who is back with the Nuggets after spending the past two seasons with the Pacers, Raptors, and Pelicans, spoke at media day about being part of “a lot of losing basketball” since leaving the Nuggets as a free agent in 2023 and told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he had thought about coming back to Denver “as soon as I got to Toronto.”

Ahead of the Nuggets’ game against the Raptors on Monday, Brown spoke to Kayla Grey of TSN (Twitter link) about those remarks, explaining that they weren’t intended as a shot at Toronto or the Raptors.

“Media day, they asked me, ‘When did you think about getting to Denver’ And I said when I got to Toronto. That wasn’t like I didn’t want to go Toronto,” Brown said. “I went to Indy. I finally chose where I could go, and three months in, they trade me, and I’m like, ‘Why the f–k did I go? I could have stayed in Denver and been happy.’

“I think Toronto’s one of the best cities in the NBA, easily. Like, I loved my time in Toronto. It’s insane. So don’t let people on social media twist my words, because I loved my time in Toronto. But it’s just the beast of it.”

Here are a few more notes on the Raptors:

  • Scottie Barnes failed to make a field goal and all five Raptors starters had negative net ratings in the team’s preseason opener against Denver on Monday. Still, while the game showed that there’s plenty of room for improvement, Brandon Ingram‘s Raptors debut was an encouraging one, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, who notes that the veteran forward looked “perfectly comfortable” generating half-court offense, which is why the team traded for him last season. Ingram had a team-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
  • Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter were the Raptors’ first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, respectively, but their roles for the 2025/26 season aren’t guaranteed. According to Grange, both players are embracing the challenge of having to fight for minutes in Toronto’s rotation. “This is the first time in my life, no doubt, that I’ve had to (battle for minutes),” Walter said on Sunday. “It’s definitely the first time, I’d say, where I haven’t been like the main guy on the team, but you know, I love it. I like the competitiveness. I like the drive I have to have every day.”
  • Second-year Raptors point guard Jamal Shead has emerged as the leader among the club’s younger players, per Eric Koreen of The Athletic. While Koreen likens Shead’s role to the one Fred VanVleet played on a young second unit during his early years in Toronto, the 23-year-old downplayed his impact. “Honestly, it’s just information. I’m a point guard. I give out information. They take it, they receive it, and then we move on from there,” Shead said. “I don’t think it’s more of them just following me (because) I’m the best leader ever. I think it’s just more of a respect thing.”

Raptors Notes: Ingram, Murray-Boyles, Rotations, Chomche

After three straight years of playing at- or below-.500 basketball, the Raptors are entering this season with a chip on their shoulder, writes Eric Koreen for The Athletic.

According to Koreen, that’s especially true of newcomer Brandon Ingram, who was named an All-Star and Most Improved Player in the 2019/20 season, but has struggled to gain recognition for his impact in the years that followed due to both injuries and an underperforming Pelicans team. It’s not only Ingram who feels that way, according to veteran Garrett Temple.

Scottie (Barnes) was the No. 4 pick, but everyone was like, ‘Why are they picking you No. 4?’ RJ (Barrett) and (Immanuel Quickley): Toronto wanted you, but New York obviously traded you,” Temple told Koreen. “BI, New Orleans traded you. Ochai (Agbaji) got traded after (in his second season). You can look guys down the line: ‘Gradey (Dick), are you really good enough to play in the NBA, or is it just show?’ You can look at a lot of our players, and there’s a reason to have a chip on the shoulder. I think that’s what brings a lot of people together.”

While some Raptors may be using that history as motivation this season, Ingram is wary of letting that feeling drive him.

I think when you go try to prove yourself to other people, it never works out,” he said on Monday. “If you look too far and try to impress people, you’ll take failures more.

We have more notes from the Raptors:

  • In a recap of the Raptors’ yearly end-of-camp open scrimmage, Michael Grange of Sportsnet writes that Ingram showed how he can bring a skill set as a scorer that Toronto hasn’t had in years, whether on or off the ball.
  • In the same piece, Grange notes that Collin Murray-Boyles has been a standout. While Murray-Boyles was drafted in large part on the strength of his defense, he displayed some intriguing offensive potential during the team’s scrimmage, including hitting a three-pointer. Grange writes that the rookie’s shooting development will be a major factor in his ceiling as an NBA player. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic was also impressed by the young big man’s performance. “He’s been doing a really, really good job,” Rajakovic said. “He’s not afraid of anything or anybody.”
  • Another noteworthy detail from the scrimmage, according to Grange, was how the rotations shook out. Quickley, Barrett, and Ingram were joined by Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, as was expected. The second unit was where it got more interesting, as Rajakovic used a lineup of Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. This left Ja’Kobe Walter, the 19th pick in the 2024 draft, on the outside looking in, along with Jamison Battle and Jonathan Mogbo. All three of those players averaged at least 17 minutes per game last season, but with the additions of Ingram and Murray-Boyles, plus hopefully a healthy season from Quickley, there will likely be fewer end-of-bench minutes to go around this year.
  • Finally, Grange provides an update on two-way player Ulrich Chomche, who has been held out of practice for much of training camp and will be getting medical imaging done on Monday. Grange notes that he jogged out during the game to greet his teammates, which would seem to indicate that the injury limiting him is not something severe.

Raptors Notes: Ingram, Walter, Mamukelashvili, More

Raptors forward Brandon Ingram has been cleared for contact, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports reports (via Twitter). This marks a major step in Ingram’s rehab process as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury that prevented him from playing for Toronto after the team traded for him at the 2024 trade deadline.

Lewenberg writes that Ingram has been participating in individual workouts with the Raptors during the offseason and will start scrimmaging in the next few days. Head coach Darko Rajakovic seems optimistic about the versatile wing’s return.

He’s pain-free, he’s moving well, he got stronger. He’s in a really, really great spot,” Rajakovic said.

The Raptors traded a pair of rotation players along with a first-round draft pick and a second-round pick to acquire Ingram, who will be counted on to help them take the next step toward sustained competitiveness.

We have more on the Raptors:

  • Ja’Kobe Walter, the 19th pick in the 2024 draft, is coming into his sophomore season with 12 more pounds of muscle and a readiness to gain some momentum in Summer League, Lewenberg writes for TSN.ca. Walter was beset by injuries as a rookie that made it difficult to get his feet under him until near the end of the season, when things started to click. “That was my first time ever being injured and I got injured plenty of times last year,” Walter said. “It was definitely tough for me, but I learned that I love basketball.” While the Raptors’ starting five appears set, there’s a need for versatile wing contributors off the bench who can mesh with the starters, and a strong summer would go a long way toward cementing Walter’s place in that pecking order.
  • Sandro Mamukelashvili spoke on Friday about why he chose to join the Raptors and how the international connection matters to him. “Coach Darko is a European coach, understands European style of play,” Mamukelashvili said (Twitter link via Lewenberg). “A lot of young guys who want to get better, get to the next level together. Nothing better than to be part of something like that.” The 6’11” big man also talked about the journeyman start to his career and his search for a more permanent home. “I really want to prove that I’m a rotational piece, that I can be in the NBA for 10 years and leave my mark somewhere,” he said (Twitter link). The four-year veteran spent 65 games with the Bucks before playing the next two-and-a-half seasons with the Spurs. In 2024/25, he averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 11.2 minutes per game, while shooting 37.3% from three.
  • Rajakovic spoke on Thursday about the Raptors’ decision to fire former team president Masai Ujiri. “He brought a lot of success to the organization, but like a lot of things in life, those kinds of situations happen,” he said, per Lewenberg (via Twitter). “We’re going to miss him, but we’re very well equipped to continue moving forward.” Toronto has yet to replace Ujiri, but is expected to look at both internal and external candidates to find a new president.
  • Summer League wins might not count in the regular season standings, but that won’t stop the Raptors’ Summer League squad from gunning for the championship in Las Vegas, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet. With a large portion of the roster made up of players hoping to be members of the regular season rotation, including Walter, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, and recent No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles, the team recognizes its chance to develop chemistry and prove itself in the eyes of the team’s higher-ups. “We want to be the team that everybody thinks we should. I think, going into the summer league, we’re all excited to play. We’re all hungry,” Shead said after hosting a four-day training camp at his former high school in Austin, Texas.

Raptors Notes: Rookies, Rebuild, Offseason

Raptors rookies Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Battle may not have made anyone’s Rookie of the Year ballots this season, but the young charges have impressed Toronto decision-makers enough that they may have expedited the club’s rebuild, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.

Despite a lackluster 30-win season, Grange notes that the youngsters’ upside gives fans and pundits plenty of reason for optimism next year. And Toronto’s young core appears committed to improving over the summer.

“It’s not about what I want to work on,” Shead said. “I think for this team to be good, (the coaching staff is) going to give me the things that (they) would want to see out of me next year, especially to help us win… I think that’s the biggest thing for me. It’s not about what I will work on. It’s about what helps this team.”

There’s more out of Toronto:

  • The Raptors have an intriguing offseason ahead of them, writes Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link). Gozlan indicates that the team will face three major summer decisions: whether or not to extend Ochai Agbaji, what RJ Barrett‘s future holds, and what to do at the center position. The Raptors will possess a lottery pick in this year’s draft and have a 7.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
  • In another comprehensive preview of the Raptors’ 2025 offseason, Keith Smith of Spotrac writes that that the club’s midseason acquisition of Brandon Ingram could pay off next year and opines that a healthier run in 2025/26 could pave the way for at least a playoff berth. That wouldn’t take much in the East, Smith notes, adding that – with plenty of intriguing young players – Toronto could get involved in the bidding for one of the several All-Stars who may become available by trade. Possible star trade candidates this summer include forwards Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Raptors’ Walter At Risk Of Missing Rest Of Season?

Raptors guard Ja’Kobe Walter has missed the past two games due to what the team first listed as a right quad strain before updating the diagnosis to a right hip flexor injury.

As Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca relays (via Twitter), the latest formal update from the Raptors indicates that Walter is currently limited to stand-still shooting and will be reevaluated in a couple days. However, Grange has heard that the rookie has a Grade 2 strain in his quad/hip area, which could sideline him for the next month.

Given that the regular season wraps up on April 13, it’s possible Walter won’t return in 2024/25 if that timeline turns out to be accurate, Grange adds.

The 19th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Walter missed most of his first month due to AC joint (shoulder) issues, but has been relatively healthy since returning on November 27. In 44 total appearances (11 starts), the former Baylor standout has averaged 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 20.0 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .405/.312/.746.

The 20-year-old has a guaranteed $3.64MM salary for next season and the Raptors will have to decide by October 31, 2025 whether or not to exercise his $3.81MM team option for 2026/27.

While Walter hasn’t had an especially memorable rookie year, he has flashed some promise for the rebuilding Raptors in recent weeks, including scoring 17 and 14 points in his two most recent healthy games last Tuesday and Friday, so it looks like a safe bet that his ’26/27 option will be picked up.

Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Sixers, Horford, Raptors

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse believes the team is on the cusp of figuring out its new treatment plan for star center Joel Embiid, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelpahi Inquirer. At the end of February, Embiid was shut down for the rest of the season with left knee swelling.

“…I think they are getting closer to that,” Nurse said on Saturday. “I think there’s another [evaluation] at some point today, as well. I know they met a lot and talked a lot and [saw] a lot of people… So we are working at it, but we just don’t have a definitive answer quite yet.”

Pompey notes that Philadelphia and Embiid have pondered the possibility of a follow-up surgery on the knee. He last went under the knife in February 2024 for a left meniscus surgery, but the former MVP is still dealing with pain and swelling in that knee.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

  • The Sixers made a flurry of big signings during the 2024 offseason in anticipation of a deep playoff run. Forward Paul George agreed to a four-season, $211.6MM deal to join Philadelphia in free agency, while Embiid was inked to a three-year, $192.9MM contract extension, which won’t begin until 2026/27. Instead of being an MVP contender this year, however, the team has seen Embiid limited to 19 games, while many of its new additions have regressed mightily from their 2023/24 runs. In a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pompey details how Philadelphia’s summer splurge could adversely impact its roster-building in the years to come.
  • Celtics center Al Horford, one of the league’s oldest active players at age 38, received major praise from his colleagues following a 111-101 victory over the Lakers on Saturday, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Playing 37 minutes with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable, Horford scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four dimes. “Al is one of a kind,” All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum said. “…I’m the biggest Al Horford fan there is. I love that guy.” Head coach Joe Mazzulla, meanwhile, called the 6’9″ vet “a future Hall of Famer.” With his longevity, scoring output, team success (he’s won one NBA championship and two NCAA titles), and five All-Star appearances, Horford does have a case. “Al is just old reliable,” All-Star Celtics wing Jaylen Brown said. “He’s just the ultimate connector for us on both ends.” Across 50 games in his 18th pro season, Horford is averaging 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals per night, with a .418/.358/.893 shooting line.
  • With the postseason likely out of reach for this year’s Raptors, the team is prioritizing player development, notes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. To wit, Toronto is getting encouraging minutes from rookies Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, and Jamison Battle, plus solid performances from two-way players Jared Rhoden and A.J. Lawson. The club believes intense pregame workout sessions among its younger players have played a part in their growth. “We push ourselves in those workouts and we get out there in games and try to replicate that,” Shead said.

Raptors Notes: Ingram, Temple, Tucker, Barnes, Battle

The Raptors‘ trade-deadline acquisition of Brandon Ingram raised some eyebrows due to the team’s record (now 16-37) and the perception of Ingram as a win-now player. However, appearing on First Up on TSN1050, general manager Bobby Webster insisted that Toronto is “not putting the cart before the horse” and referred to Thursday as “a great day for the rebuild.”

“We got younger, we opened up playing time, we were able to use a lot of the flexibility under the tax to take on contracts, draft picks, pick up some cash along the way,” Webster said of the Raptors’ deadline moves, which included trading Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk to New Orleans as part of the package for Ingram and sending out Davion Mitchell in a separate deal.

“We opened up a lot of playing time for our young players. People have seen with our rookies, Ja’Kobe [Walter], Jamal [Shead], [Jonathan] Mogbo, and Jamison Battle and [Ulrich] Chomche, then second- and third-year guys like Gradey [Dick] and Ochai [Agbaji] — I think the opportunity that moving some of these old guys will afford the young players, we’ll see.”

Webster pointed out that Ingram isn’t much older than the rest of the Raptors’ core players and suggested that there’s a belief within the organization that there could be an opportunity to take a real step forward as early as next season, though the team won’t rush the process.

“Interesting to see as we add a first-round pick, add a second-round pick, hopefully able to retain Ingram, see what that team looks like, but we’ll temper expectations as this team grows,” Webster said. Scottie Barnes is 23, Immanuel Quickley is 25, RJ Barrett is 24, Brandon is still just 27, so I think even from that perspective it’s a young core. We’ll continue the rebuild, I think this is a progress. No change in progress or timeline.”

Here’s more on the Raptors:

  • Ingram will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but the Raptors now hold his Bird rights and could even extend him before he reaches free agency. Webster is optimistic about getting a deal done sooner or later. “We’re having [contract] discussions now. We wouldn’t do the deal unless we felt there was a comfort level with what he was looking for, what we were able to offer, an interest level in coming to Toronto,” Webster said. “Hopefully we can get something done. (Like) when we traded for Jakob Poeltl, it enables us to get the player in the system and for them to get a feel for us, we get a feel for them. The goal is to have a long-term extension with him.”
  • Veteran guard Garrett Temple, who previously spent two seasons alongside Ingram in New Orleans from 2021-23, said the Raptors’ front office sought his input before pulling the trigger on the trade, per Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Temple anticipates a “seamless” fit for his former teammate. “The fact that we were able to get him without having to give up any of our, you know, core pieces was very impressive, and it’s great,” Temple said. “He’s a really great guy. And you can’t say that about a lot of guys in the league, especially All-Star-level players. But BI is definitely that guy. He cares about playing basketball. He loves playing the game of basketball. In today’s league, that’s not easy to say about a lot of people that have been paid.”
  • Veteran forward P.J. Tucker won’t be coming to Toronto after being acquired from Utah in the five-team Jimmy Butler trade that sent Mitchell to Miami, Webster confirmed (according to Koreen). Tucker remains on the roster for now, but it sounds like he’ll be either bought out or waived outright, which would create a second open spot on the Raptors’ standard 15-man roster.
  • Speaking to William Guillory of The Athletic about Ingram’s fit in Toronto, Koreen expressed concern about how the former Pelicans will mesh with franchise player Barnes. However, Barnes said over the weekend that he’s excited to build a “special connection” with his new teammate, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca relays.
  • In a separate story for The Athletic, Koreen takes a closer look at how Battle went from an undrafted rookie on an Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way deal to a spot on Toronto’s standard roster over the past seven months.

Raptors Notes: Lineup, Mogbo, Barnes, Trade Candidates

The Raptors deployed their youngest starting lineup in franchise history in Thursday’s game vs. Brooklyn, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca, who notes that the average age of Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and returning star Scottie Barnes was 22 years and 187 days. Agbaji, who is 24, called it “crazy” that he was the oldest starter in the lineup.

Missing reliable regulars like Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors lost a winnable game to the Nets by a score of 101-94, but there were some intriguing takeaways, including the use of Mogbo as a switchable small-ball five, Murphy writes.

Toronto has been better defensively with Mogbo on the court this season and the rookie has provided some reasons for optimism with his play on the offensive end of the floor too, according to Murphy, though he’s still in the early stages of his NBA development.

“There is a lot, for sure, for him. He is learning a lot and every time,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said of Mogbo prior to the loss. “When you learn different positions that he’s played lately, different matchups, at some point it comes to you slowing down a little bit with your aggressiveness. But we are working through that, and we want him to be aggressive, we want him to be forceful and when he does that, he’s the player that we like.”

Here’s more on the Raptors:

  • The Raptors haven’t had much good fortune so far this season, but the team caught a break with Barnes’ speedy return from his ankle injury, notes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link). The All-Star forward was originally projected to miss “several weeks” due to the sprain, but ended up missing just two games and returning to action 10 days after sustaining the injury. He had 16 points and six assists in 36 minutes on Thursday in his first game back.
  • Eric Koreen of The Athletic breaks down the Raptors’ roster into “trade tiers,” evaluating which players are the most and least likely to be on the move at this season’s deadline. Koreen classifies veteran swingman Bruce Brown, who is on a $23MM expiring contract, as Toronto’s most likely player to be traded, and suggests Chris Boucher, Bruno Fernando, Davion Mitchell, Kelly Olynyk, and Garrett Temple are the other top candidates to be moved.
  • Within the same story, Koreen says he views Barnes as essentially untouchable, with Barrett, Quickley, Dick, Agbaji, Mogbo, Walter, and Jamal Shead also unlikely to be dealt. That leaves Poeltl, who probably won’t be untouchable but also likely won’t go anywhere unless Toronto gets a very strong offer, Koreen says.
  • In case you missed it, the Raptors remained in the top 10 in Sportico’s latest NBA franchise valuations, coming in at $4.66 billion.

Atlantic Notes: Martin, Simmons, Nets, Raptors, Celtics

Entering Wednesday’s contest in Phoenix, Nets wing Tyrese Martin had scored 33 career points in 105 minutes over 21 NBA games. Martin, who is on a two-way deal with Brooklyn, proceeded to light up the Suns, scoring 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting — including 8-of-10 from three-point range — in 28 minutes during the 10-point win, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

S–t, I felt like I was drowning in the ocean. Everybody’s throwing water, it’s cold. A lot of love, though. A lot of love. It felt good,” Martin said of the post-game victory celebration.

Definitely felt surreal, especially in the environment and situation we’re in with this team. A lot of teams probably take us lightly when we come into town. … But we’re here to compete and play hard. So to do it on this stage against Hall of Fame players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, definitely a surreal feeling.”

Martin received some extra playing time after it was reported that leading scorer Cam Thomas would miss three-to-four weeks with a strained hamstring. A 2022 second-round pick who spent all of last season in the G League with the Iowa Wolves, the 25-year-old said he took advantage of being a relatively unknown commodity.

I just feel like they didn’t know who I was. So … they’re probably not going to really pay attention to you on the defensive end,” Martin said. “But I bet you they know who I am now.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

  • Martin’s career night overshadowed to some extent Ben Simmons‘ best game of the season so far, according to Collin Helwig of NetsDaily.com. Simmons was unusually aggressive from the opening tip, finishing with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal in 27 minutes. “I think I’m just getting more comfortable,” the Nets swingman said. “I’ve been away from the game for a while in terms of being healthy and it takes time to get back to back to where I want to be.” Dennis Schröder (29 points, four rebounds, three assists, a game-high plus-19 in 34 minutes) and Trendon Watford (18 points in 22 minutes off the bench) also had strong outings during Brooklyn’s third straight road victory, Helwig notes.
  • The Raptors‘ first road victory of the season came in blowout fashion on Wednesday in New Orleans. Toronto received contributions up and down the roster, but the play of Jamison Battle (a career-high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting), Ochai Agbaji (24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, six rebounds) and Ja’Kobe Walter (14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) was particularly encouraging, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Battle is on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of Ohio State, while Walter was a first-round pick in June’s draft (No. 19 overall). A former lottery pick, Agbaji will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer.
  • How will Kristaps Porzingis‘ return impact the Celtics‘ rotation? Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston explores that question and more in his latest mailbag.