Examining the Raptors' Supporting Cast Behind Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes

The Toronto Raptors finally have the star power to contend in the Eastern Conference, but its supporting cast still raises questions about shooting and the pieces needed to maximize its two stars.

Mar 25, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With the addition of Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors finally have the talent on paper to compete among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

However, the supporting cast around them still poses some questions about their playoff potential. Players like Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett will now see revamped roles, and will have to prove that they fit alongside the Raptors new superstar duo.

Toronto will inevitably have some tough decisions to make as they are preparing to contend, while also looking to build for the future after Leonard as well.

Raptors Have the Stars. Does It Have the Right Pieces?

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is a huge part of the team's puzzle moving forward. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Leonard and Barnes are a very strong foundation to building a championship team. They are both plus defenders who can guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor. On offense, Barnes' ability to be a secondary creator and a threat in transition compliments Leonard's half court shot-creation ability.

While this is a solid foundation, the Raptors success hinges on their ability to put not just any talent, but the right talents around their two stars.

The biggest question surrounding this current Raptors team is their ability to space the floor. When Barnes and Leonard are working together to attack the same area of the floor, the Raptors need to rely on their complimentary pieces to garner some respect from beyond the arc. This leads to some questions about if Toronto has the right pieces?

Can Immanuel Quickley provide the threat from deep while also being a facilitator alongside Barnes? Can Barrett become a shooter who thrives off the ball? What can the Raptors expect from younger guys like Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter and Allen Graves? We started to see the potential that this Raptors team has, but adding Kawhi Leonard will undoubtedly shake things up a bit.

The Raptors Have to Build for Life After Kawhi

This is potentially the most important question the Raptors must answer. What happens when Leonard is not on the floor? Leonard only hit 60 games played in two of his seven seasons with the Clippers. This means that it is likely that Toronto will have to account for 20+ games without Leonard available.

Additionally, Leonard is 35 years old, and he won't be playing forever. The Raptors still need to prioritize building around Barnes' strengths as well, because when Leonard is either not available or eventually when he retires, this will go back to being Barnes' team.

The Raptors addressed quite a few of their current needs in adding Leonard to the fold, but there are still questions about the pieces around Leonard and fellow superstar Barnes that need to be answered before the start of the season.

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