Training Camp Thread / Media Day

[bape_lovers]

There is nothing to talk about when the games doesn’t start.

[links135]

overall this forum is filled with posters that can't communicate in any other way than to cry and complain. so im guessing a bunch of folks just got tired of it.

There's also not much to complain about.

[PhilBlackson]

I think JaKobe should become the starter at some point, that lineup needs his defensive energy/ability and added spacing. RJ could be a perfect 6th man to help provide some scoring since we seen from Summer League that bench can struggle with their offence.

I can see JaKobe playing that Aaron Neismith/Dort type of role (although Dort's strength prob sets him apart), that role of a high level 3+D player & RJ sorta like Mathurin as the bench spark plug. But JaKobe has the upside to something more than just a 3+D guy that can develop more & more overtime especially if teams won't pay as much attention to him. Maybe he's not an all star in the making but I think he could become a damn good & valuable player if developed right.

[Tor_Raps]

The raptors have had some pathetic seasons leading up to this and most of Canada's attention is rightfully on the Jays right now. When their season ends, people will start paying more attention.

Hopefully the raptors give us reason to want to watch them because the patience will be very little amongst casuals.

[WhatsaTDot]

I'm not overly familiar with the coaching staff resumes but there's not much name recognition there.

[dballislife]

it is the year of the cornrows

[VanWest82]

overall this forum is filled with posters that can't communicate in any other way than to cry and complain. so im guessing a bunch of folks just got tired of it.

1. who are the primary initiators on offense, and how does that play out?
2. further to #1 what do you think IQ's role will look like, and is it better for the team if he spends more time on or off ball?
3. also further to #1, what is the best use of Scottie's skill set? Do you think we're better off forcing him into a #1 or #2 role or having him fit in as a role player after the addition of BI?
4. What do you think is the best way to develop CMB?

[mihaic]

overall this forum is filled with posters that can't communicate in any other way than to cry and complain. so im guessing a bunch of folks just got tired of it.

There's also not much to complain about.

Still I am surprised there is no tanking thread, to complain there that based on Bobby's PC, we have no intention to tank. What good is to play, when we're all but guaranteed we cannot win it all this year.

/sarcasm

[Shakril]

overall this forum is filled with posters that can't communicate in any other way than to cry and complain. so im guessing a bunch of folks just got tired of it.

There's also not much to complain about.

Still I am surprised there is no tanking thread, to complain there that based on Bobby's PC, we have no intention to tank. What good is to play, when we're all but guaranteed we cannot win it all this year.

/sarcasm

Wait for the first time we lose against OKC by 10 points, and they will come out crawling out.

[canz55]

What's a discord?

[ATLTimekeeper]

I think JaKobe should become the starter at some point, that lineup needs his defensive energy/ability and added spacing. RJ could be a perfect 6th man to help provide some scoring since we seen from Summer League that bench can struggle with their offence.

I can see JaKobe playing that Aaron Neismith/Dort type of role (although Dort's strength prob sets him apart), that role of a high level 3+D player & RJ sorta like Mathurin as the bench spark plug. But JaKobe has the upside to something more than just a 3+D guy that can develop more & more overtime especially if teams won't pay as much attention to him. Maybe he's not an all star in the making but I think he could become a damn good & valuable player if developed right.

I think the main reason Mathurin came off the bench is he is the biggest black hole in the league. RJ can play Darko's system. He's a .5 guy. Ideally you are right and there's a dedicated defender in the SL, but with Scottie and Poeltl I think there's a significant backline that can clean up a lot of RJ's garbage.

JaKobe won't ever have the bulk of Nesmith or Dort. The 3 really has to be there for him to be an NBA player. I think for him this year he should be trying to push Ochai out the door.

[TheGeneral99]

Watch on YouTube

[WuTang_CMB]

https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2025/09/30/raptors-training-camp-notebook-day-1/

The first day of training camp is always fun for players, coaches, and media alike. A healthy mix of new faces, but most importantly, heaps of optimism for each and every player in the gym.

As part of this I’ll be fielding mailbag questions at the end of each day, so if you want something asked/answered for tomorrow – ask away in the comments.

“Once it comes to training camp practices become longer, we compete more and that becomes a really good opportunity for us to coach more, to get into the details and really start creating chemistry on a team. Seeing different guys in different combinations – how they play together, how they find each other, understanding roles – I think that’s the most important thing now.” – Darko Rajakovic

For starters, if anyone is interested to know, the players were organized into these groups for workouts/shooting drills:

Group 1: Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, David Roddy

Group 2: Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamison Battle, Garrett Temple, Jared Rhoden

Group 3: Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, AJ Lawson Alijah Martin, Chucky Hepburn

Group 4: Jakob Poeltl, Jonathan Mogbo, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Olivier Sarr (Chomche wasn’t dressed for practice)


Main takeaway from these groupings? Murray-Boyles has been slotted in with the wings/forwards, not the bigs. That tracks with what my expectations were of his game coming out of college, but the Raptors also designated Mogbo as a wing prior to last season, but still grouped him in with bigs back in Montreal. Also, with how much competition is being referenced by the players in the run up to the season, seeing the new rookie grouped in with all the big names is a good thing.

Scottie Barnes was receiving treatment so we didn’t see much of him. There’s no cause for concern, treatment is regular. We’ll talk to him later this week.

“Brandon and I compete a lot. You know, obviously we’re playing together, but it’s still competition. And just what I’ve seen with him is, this is work ethic. He comes in every day. He comes in early, you know? He works on his stuff. So, he’s a true professional. Besides his size and length and shot making and stuff like that – besides that, I can see why he’s been as good as he is.”

While there wasn’t a specific matchup between Barrett and Ingram for me to feast my eyes on, Ingram wandered over to the guard/wing portion of fellas and picked out Agbaji for a 1 on 1 matchup from the elbow.

[WuTang_CMB]

https://www.tsn.ca/nba/video/2025/09/30/raptors-gm-webster-speaks-about-his-expanded-role-teams-expectations-and-more/

[NBA Sheady]

Glad to see CMB is not working out with the 5's. I would be shocked if the org thought he was a 5.

[Tor_Raps]

Glad to see CMB is not working out with the 5's. I would be shocked if the org thought he was a 5.

Ya this organization has had a lot of issues recently figuring out their players true position. Hoping this stupidity is behind us lol.

CMB can probably play the 5 in certain situations just like Scottie can but it shouldn't be their primary positions. Build their skill sets more in line to a PF and go from there.

[Agimat]

I don't think forums are dead or dying; there are still forums that are alive and well although they tend to be more niche and not as mainstream anymore. It'll start grooving once the season kicks off! especially when the team is winning or losing a lot no in-between lol

[djsunyc]

[djsunyc]

overall this forum is filled with posters that can't communicate in any other way than to cry and complain. so im guessing a bunch of folks just got tired of it.

1. who are the primary initiators on offense, and how does that play out?
2. further to #1 what do you think IQ's role will look like, and is it better for the team if he spends more time on or off ball?
3. also further to #1, what is the best use of Scottie's skill set? Do you think we're better off forcing him into a #1 or #2 role or having him fit in as a role player after the addition of BI?
4. What do you think is the best way to develop CMB?

we will find out soon enough. i'm not going to pretend to know what's the best way for this team to function.

from the crumbs given in interviews, it seems we will start the season off with:

- continue to move the ball around
- iq is going to catch and shoot more
- use a deep rotation with an aggressive defensive style.

then there will be tweaks along the way.

[Los Manos]

Sam Vecenie has us 6th in the east.

Watch on YouTube