Despite narrowly missing out on the Summer League playoffs due to a point-differential tie-breaker, the Toronto Raptors are scheduled to play their final contest against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada and ESPN2.
Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the Summer League finale.
Is Allen Graves legit?
The Allen Graves experience has fully delivered on what the analytics predicted. Even without the luxury of true offensive gravity to occupy the defence’s attention, Graves demonstrated how his complementary game can benefit the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes.
Through four contests, Graves is averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks) while shooting 50 per cent from the perimeter. Beyond the statistical output, Graves has also seemingly elevated the average fan’s awareness of the nuanced contributions that an elite role player provides.
Graves’ uncanny ability to warp 50-50 balls into scenarios that greatly favour him and his knack for consistently knocking down open shots will mesh perfectly with the Raptors’ dynamic duo of Leonard and Barnes, particularly in the post-season.
While it wouldn’t be surprising if Graves is limited against the Nuggets, should he play meaningful minutes, it would be encouraging to see him attack the rim. Outside of a near-perfect start to his career, Graves’ lone blemish is his lack of free-throw attempts.
Grab both centres?
Collin Murray-Boyles’ absence has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While many hoped to see Murray-Boyles dominate Summer League in his own signature way, the sophomore’s finger injury created additional opportunities for Nate Bittle and Jamarion Sharp.
Bittle, a seven-foot centre, has consistently impressed onlookers through four Summer League games. The 23-year-old big man went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, but has made the most of his opportunity with Toronto. It’s easy to envision Bittle coming off the bench – and even playing extended minutes should Poeltl miss games – on a Raptors team desperate for centre production. Bittle is a perimeter threat, protects the rim, rebounds the ball at a decent rate, and has touch on his passes that Head Coach Darko Rajakovic will certainly love.
Sharp, a seven-foot-six centre, may not have the finesse and shooting touch that Bittle possesses, but instead leverages otherworldly size and motor skills that can’t be taught. He’s a cheat code of a lob threat and easily erases shots at the rim. The reigning G League Defensive Player of the Year may have earned a training camp invite with how efficient he’s been off the bench in Summer League.
Worrisome guard play?
It’s no secret that Raptors fans were clamouring for a guard in the first round of the draft. When they didn’t get that specific archetype, attention was turned to the Raptors’ Summer League roster. Headed into the opener, two guards who stood out were Chucky Hepburn and 2026 second-rounder Jaden Bradley.
Unfortunately, neither improved their stock ahead of pre-season.
Hepburn, in his second year in the Raptors’ system, began Summer League with a slight advantage. His reputation as a tenacious two-way guard is something Toronto could use on its bench. Regrettably, Hepburn had a Summer League to forget. In two games, Hepburn averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.0 turnovers. The six-foot guard struggled with efficiency, averaging 23.8 per cent from the field 8.3 per cent from deep in 29 minutes of action.
After undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January, the Raptors seemingly removed Hepburn from Summer League action.
For Bradley, it’s been a bit of an awkward debut. It’s nonsensical to draw serious conclusions about a second-round rookie in Summer League. Still, it’s been confusing to see Bradley play without the confidence that carried him through his four years at Arizona.
In four games, Bradley is averaging 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 turnovers in just under 20 minutes a game. What’s more worrisome is that he’s struggled immensely with his shot, averaging 29.6 per cent from the field. He’s also only attempted three shots from the perimeter and has converted zero. In his final year with the Wildcats, Bradley averaged 46.3 per cent from the field and shot 39.4 per cent from deep on nearly two attempts a game.
Hepburn and Bradley will likely need additional reps with the Raptors 905, but there’s a potential spot on the main roster up for grabs, even if it’s just in stretches. How these two guards develop will help determine whether either of them is considered.
Read the full article here