Amidst the uncertainty of the latest chapter in the Kawhi Leonard saga, the Toronto Raptors have a Summer League circuit to tackle. Game one tips-off against the Boston Celtics on Friday at 9:00 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada.
Here are three storylines worth your attention ahead of the matchup.
Will Allen Graves make an immediate impact?
It was like clockwork. Allen Graves is the latest Raptor rookie to be greeted by a combination of resistance, indifference, and disappointment. But after the success story that Collin Murray-Boyles authored last season, there’s a reality that Raptors General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster strikes gold for the second year in a row.
Assuming Murray-Boyles plays with a minutes or game restriction, expect the Raptors to lean on Graves to play the roles of defensive savant and offensive Swiss Army knife. The 19-year-old has similar defensive instincts to Murray-Boyles, but Graves can also deploy his reliable jump shot on the offensive end.
The mystery that shrouds Graves’ game can begin to dissipate based on how he fares against elevated athleticism and speed. While the Celtics were among the slowest teams in pace last year, expect their Summer League roster to get out and run.
Stat line prediction: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
The rest of the youth movement
When Leonard was traded to the Raptors in 2019, he was surrounded by budding stars and elite role players. During Toronto’s championship run, Head Coach Nick Nurse often turned to youngsters like OG Anunoby (21), Fred VanVleet (24), Pascal Siakam (24) and Norman Powell (25).
By the start of this season, these will be the current Raptors aged 25 or under who are expected to play rotational minutes:
-
Collin Murray-Boyles (21)
Jaden Bradley (23), Alijah Martin (24) and Chucky Hepburn (23) will also battle for minutes, with their journey beginning in the Summer League opener.
Leonard doesn’t have much time left before he sunsets into retirement. The Raptors moved off rotational pieces like Jonas Valanciunas, CJ Miles and Delon Wright in 2019, and fans can expect the front-office to do the same with this group if the correct vision doesn’t manifest early.
The evaluation process begins now.
Celtics’ chaotic energy present challenges
The Celtics are 43-29 all-time in Summer League action. Boston’s deepest run occurred in 2021, when the team reached the Summer League finals before losing to the Sacramento Kings.
Raptors fans are familiar with sophomore Hugo Gonzales.
Gonzales became the second-youngest Celtic to record a double-double when he finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-96 win over the Raptors last season. The energetic forward also recorded two steals and one block. Expect Gonzalez to have the green light to wreak havoc, especially in a Summer League environment.
After falling to the bottom of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Chris Cenac Jr. has the rest of his rookie season to prove skeptics wrong. The idea of Cenac is far more alluring than what he currently is or realistically projects to be. Cenac has the physical tools and mindset of a dynamic big man who thrives in the modern NBA. Unfortunately, the shooting touch and development are behind where they should be.
Celtics Summer League roster:
G Mohammad Amini (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
F/C Chris Cenac Jr. (6’11, drafted 27th in 2026 by Celtics)
F Tucker DeVries (6’7, undrafted in 2026)
G/F Hugo Gonzalez (6’6, drafted 28th in 2025 by Celtics)
G Caleb Grill (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for the Windy City Bulls in 2025-26)
G Curtis Jones (6’3, undrafted in 2025, played for the Grand Rapids Gold in 2025-26)
G Kyle Mangas (6’4, undrafted in 2021, played for Austin Spurs in 2025-26)
F Dillon Mitchell (6’8, drafted 40th in 2026 by Celtics)
F Hank Morgan (6’5, undrafted in 2025, played for the Maine Celtics in 2025-26)
F Nick Pringle (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
G Day Day Thomas (6’1, undrafted in 2026)
G John Tonje (6’4, undrafted in 2025, played for Main Celtics in 2025-26)
G Milos Uzan (6’3, undrafted in 2026)
F Chauncey Wiggins (6’10, undrafted in 2026)
G Alondes Williams (6’4, undrafted in 2022, played for the Capital City Go-Go in 2025-26)
C Amari Williams (6’11, drafted 46th in 2025 by Orlando Magic)
Read the full article here