Locked On Raptors

After a couple of seasons where player growth and development was the primary focus, this will be the first season where Rajakovic will face real expectations of winning. Vivek Jacob is joined by Joe Wolfond to discuss where the offence, defence and wins should be at for 2025-26.The first segment focuses on the defence and whether or not last year's strides are for real. The second segment tackles the offence and that despite a lot of passing, it hasn't really become an efficient one. Finally, assessing what win totals will have Darko viewed as having performed below expectations or above.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYEnough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhoneStreamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone

The Toronto Raptors need to make the 2025-26 season a big one and Immanuel Quickley is key to that. Vivek Jacob is joined by Hello and Welcome's William Lou to break down why this season is so important for Quickley, how he can make it a big success, and what reasonable expectations should be for him.In the first segment, discussions include the perspective when Quickley was first acquired as part of the trade for OG Anunoby, expectations then, and how things have played out since. Having been paid handsomely and been handed a starting role, this season is crucial for Quickley to show why he was worth it.How can Quickley show he's worth it? That's discussed in the second segment. His playmaking, defence and of course his three-point shooting will be huge factors.Lastly, what would be normal expectations for Quickley and the team as a result. Should it be baked in that Quickley and the team is going to need 20 games or so to get accustomed to playing with Brandon Ingram in the mix? What's fair in assessing Qui

Darko Rajakovic has a good problem with what projects to be a deep rotation and decisions to make on who plays and who doesn't. Vivek Jacob is joined by The Athletic and Sportscasting's Esfandiar Baraheni to discuss how things might shake out.In the first segment, Vivek discusses with Es why R.J. Barrett might be playing fewer than 30 minutes per game this season. There's plenty of players offering competition between Gradey Dick, Ja'Kobe Walter and Ochai Agbaji and so this will be a crucial part of the Raptors' rotation.Second, the centre rotation could be murky beyond Jakob Poeltl. Can the Austrian big man himself play more minutes? He's never averaged more than 30 minutes per game in a season. Will it be Sandro Mamukelashvili or Collin Murray-Boyles at centre? How about Jonathan Mogbo. Plenty for Darko to figure out here.Lastly, the point guard rotation is going to be an interesting piece of the puzzle as well. The Raptors are going to need big minutes from Immanuel Quickley. Beyond that, if Jamal Shead is

Taking a closer look at the keys to the Raptors improving both their three-point attempt frequency rate and shooting percentage. Just how vital are Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram to the three-point puzzle? Vivek Jacob goes solo to discuss.In the first segment, the focus is specifically on three-point attempt frequency and how the Raptors can improve on finishing 28th last season.The second segment moves on to three-point percentage and the keys to elevating from 23rd last season.Finally, Vivek dives into the different teams across the league to assess where the Raptors should finish in three-point shooting. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYEnough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhoneStreamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months

If everything goes right for the 76ers health wise this season, they should be better than the Toronto Raptors -- but that's not how things in Philly work, are they? In Episode 1940, Sean Woodley chats with Trill Bro Dude (You Know Ball) to talk about the state of the 76ers and how they stack up next to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference's middle class. Off the top, they chat about whether the Sixers do in fact qualify as a mid team, and what the status of Joel Embiid is going into this coming season. Next, they talk about Paul George's own health issues, and whether it's likely the Sixers tank with a Top-4 protected first rounder going out the door. Lastly, they chat about where Philly and Toronto fit into the Eastern Conference race and get Trill's thoughts on how the Raptors' roster is shaping up going into the year. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba

The Miami Heat seem primed to be annoying good again, even with a roster that isn't all that thrilling to behold; can the Toronto Raptors keep pace? In Episode 1939, Sean Woodley is joined by David Ramil (Locked On Heat) to talk about the Heat's prospects for their first full season without Jimmy Butler and dig into why they're likely to be pretty good again, because they will simply never die! They chat about how the Heat figure to deploy their lineups this season, what kind of impact ex-Raptors Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell are likely to have on the team this season, and why David has the Raptors as a firm contender to get into the East's top six this season. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYTee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025.Monarch MoneyTake control of your f

The Milwaukee Bucks have the star power, but do the Toronto Raptors have the depth to rack up more regular season wins this season? In Episode 1938, Sean Woodley and Camille Davis (Locked On Bucks) chat about how the Bucks and Raptors stack up within the middle tier of the Eastern Conference this coming season. Off the top, Sean gets the latest on the ongoing Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Watch and dig into the Bucks' offseason moves, which have left Sean pretty uninspired! Next, Camille grills Sean about the Raptors' roster and tries to get a clearer picture of what to expect from Toronto this year. Lastly, they try to sort out which team will finish ahead of the other in the East standings, discuss the value of depth vs. star power in the modern NBA, which end of the floor each team is most likely to butter its bread, and talk about whether RJ Barrett could be a realistic trade target for the Bucks this season. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYTee up that

The Detroit Pistons were one of the stories of the league last season, but can they avoid the same fate as a similar Toronto Raptors team from recent memory? In Episode 1937, Sean Woodley is joined by Ku Khahil (Locked On Pistons) to talk about how the Pistons and Raptors stack up in the wide open middle pack in the Eastern Conference. Off the top, they chat about how what factors in addition to Cade Cunningham's leap made the Pistons so much better than expected last year, and whether they'll be able to replicate that success. Is there any way to replicate the historic shooting season Malik Beasley just had? Next, they chat about whether there's any risk of the Pistons following a similar path as the 2021-22 Raptors, who were a surprise darling team only to regress extremely the following season. Lastly, they try and size up where each of the Raptors and Pistons might land in the Eastern Conference's middle class of teams. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERG

The Toronto Raptors traded away the Indiana Pacers' 1st-rounder in 2026 in the Brandon Ingram trade -- could that pick end up being a golden ticket, or are the Pacers gonna be too good even without Tyrese Haliburton? In Episode 1936, Sean Woodley chats with Tony East (Locked On Pacers) to kick off a week-long look at some of the Raptors' closest competitors in the middle of the Eastern Conference with a chat about the Pacers and whether losing their best player to an Achilles tear will doom Indy to the lottery, or if they've got a little more juice than that still. They get into what to expect from Pascal Siakam in a leading role once again, whether Andrew Nembhard could take a big leap with more on-ball responsibility, why the term "gap year" is a silly way to describe the year ahead for Indy, and whether the Raptors or Pacers will finish higher in the Eastern Conference standings this season. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYTee up that trip! Enter for a

Pablo Torre broke a crazy potential scandal involving Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer and some suspicious money. NBA Squad breaks down all that we know, what this could mean for the league and much more! Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…

Will the Toronto Raptors honour Masai Ujiri with a statue to commemorate his contributions to the franchise? And if so, when will it go up, what will it depict and where should it stand? In Episode 1935, Sean Woodley goes solo to close out the pod's offseason with a mega mailbag show! Sean fields questions about statues, whether Malik Monk still makes sense as a potential Raptors target, the best jersey designs in Raptors history, go-to diner breakfast orders, cheapening Toronto Raptors in-arena concessions, Pascal Siakam's 2022-23 season, the disconnect between what sports are supposed to be about and the creep of late-stage capitalism, how Sean met his regular podcast contributors Katie Heindl and Vivek Jacob, and oh so much more! Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first yearFanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if

The Toronto Raptors finally stand a chance of playing a normal, entertaining basketball season for the first time in years! In Episode 1934, Sean Woodley and Katie Heindl (Basketball Feelings) lay out the guide for Toronto Raptors fans to enjoy this coming season, sort through how to navigate the confluence of high internal expectations and extremely low expectations nationally, and pinpoint the things they're most excited to watch unfold with the team this season. Simply watching Brandon Ingram play basketball promises to bring a whole lot of enjoyment on its own! Plus, the Raptors' youth will get a chance to adapt to defined roles in a way they couldn't last year, which should lead to one of the most enjoyable things you can experience as a fan: internal growth playing out in real time. On top of that, Raptors fans will for the first time in a while get a chance to watch a normal regular season unfold over the course of six months, free from the suspended state of purgatory that tanking brings about. All th

The Toronto Raptors could stand to benefit from all kinds of player development arcs this season, but which ones would be the most helpful? In Episode 1933, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob to play a classic Locked On Raptors Stupid Little Game: What's More Likely?! Off the top, Sean and Vivek discuss whether they'd rather see Gradey Dick become a league-average defender OR see Brandon Ingram launch 7 threes a game in his first full year with Toronto. Next, they chat about whether they'd rather see Jamal Shead shoot 37% from three, OR Jonathan Mogbo shoot 65% from two-point range. Lastly, they discuss whether they'd rather see Sandro Mamukelashvili become the 15-20 minute a night full-time backup center for the Raptors OR Ochai Agbaji take the starting two guard spot from RJ Barrett. Discord: https://discord.gg/BE8fbHmGListener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone

The Toronto Raptors crop of rookies in 2024 was one of the feel-good stories of the season last year, but can Ja'Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jamison Battle and Jonathan Mogbo hang as the team looks to be more competitive this season? In Episode 1932, Sean Woodley goes solo to outline what's at stake for each of Toronto's soon-to-be-sophomores, and what they each need to refine to cement themselves as part of the Raptors' long-term vision. Off the top, Sean runs through the heavy competition each of last year's rookies is going to face for minutes at their respective positions. Next, Sean gets into why Walter, while probably the most secure in his position in the team's long-term plans, is going to have to refine his promising offensive package if he's going to eek out minutes at a loaded shooting guard position. Plus, does Jamison Battle need to do anything except bang triples to keep getting minutes? Maybe not! Plus, can Jamal Shead overcome his suspect three-point shooting enough to let his passing and defens

How many wins would the Toronto Raptors need to win to qualify this coming season as a success as the team looks to move out of its rebuild? In Episode 1931, Sean Woodley goes solo to field a bunch of mailbag questions from you, the listeners! Off the top, Sean digs into what it would take for the Raptors to turn this coming season into a success, and why it might not be totally down the raw win total. Next, Sean talks about what we might look back on five years from now and pinpoint as potential downfalls of this era of Toronto Raptors basketball. Plus, what exactly is Immanuel Quickley and how will he get to showcase himself this year? Lastly, Sean digs into some silly questions about Love Island Reunions done Raptors style, best Tim Horton's locations, pocket condiments and more. Discord: https://discord.gg/jtY4jk3MListener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who c

Toronto Raptors third-year guard Gradey Dick has a lot to gain from a good season in 2025-26, and plenty to lose as well. In Episode 1930, Sean Woodley and Vivek Jacob chat about their lasting impression of Dick's up and down second year in the NBA last season, why the first half of his year is probably more telling of his true ability than his injury-addled struggle in the back half and the hurdles he needs to clear in order to put himself in line for a big payday next summer when he becomes eligible for a contract extension. Can he figure out his troubles with finishing at the rim? Can he ever become a neutral defender in the NBA? Are there guys behind him on the Raptors pecking order like Ja'Kobe Walter or Ochai Agbaji who could in theory pass him in the Raptors' rotation hierarchy? Or does he stand a chance of supplanting of of the starters when crunch time comes around late in games this season? Discord: https://discord.gg/jtY4jk3MListener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listene

The Toronto Raptors have reportedly made RJ Barrett's camp aware that he could be involved in trade discussions head into the new NBA season -- is it the right call for the team to explore trading the local-born fan favourite? In Episode 1929, Sean Woodley and Katie Heindl chat about Jake Fischer's latest reporting on Toronto's buying intentions and why RJ Barrett is the logical odd man out if the Raptors are looking to swing a deal to upgrade the roster. Plus, they bring back an old favourite segment on the show: SUMMER VACATION WATCH! Are the Raptors good at vacationing? Is Immanuel Quickley's Paris trip the team's high watermark for offseason leisure? What's the deal with Gradey Dick and his SUV in rural Kansas? Plus, how the Raps have fallen off in the vacation game since winning the title in 2019, and the Canadian locales they would recommend each of the Raptors check out as they go Elbows Up upon coming back to Canada for the new season. Discord: https://discord.gg/jtY4jk3MSupport Us By Supporting Our S

The Toronto Raptors have a higher ceiling than most national media types seem to think is possible, but there's absolutely some disaster potential here as well. In Episode 1928, Sean Woodley and James Herbert (CBS Sports) talk about the ceiling, floor and median outcomes for the wild card Raptors going into the 2025-26 NBA season. Off the top, Sean and James chat about how if Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley all adapt their games to fit with one another, there is absolutely room for the Toronto Raptors to be a playoff team in the wide open Eastern Conference. Plus, are Brandon Ingram and/or Scottie Barnes capable of being ceiling-raisers? Next, Sean and James run through the disaster outcome, where the team is a disjointed mess, but ultimately too talented to truly tank to the bottom of the East in a year that makes the contracts on the books look even less favourable than they look right now. Lastly, Sean and James make their best guess as to what will actually happen with the

The Toronto Raptors aren't the first team you'd think of when it comes to major awards contenders this coming NBA season -- but that doesn't mean we can't talk some award winning into existence! In Episode 1927, Sean Woodley and Vivek Jacob (Raptors in 7) play a classic Stupid Little Game and draft their best longshot awards bets for Toronto Raptors players going into the 2025-26 season. Is Scottie Barnes a shoe-in for an All-Star nod? All-Defense? Will Brandon Ingram throw his name in the ring for any major awards in his first full year in Toronto? Can Gradey Dick makes his way into the Sixth Man conversation? Immanuel Quickley for Most Improved? And will any members of the Raptors contend for the league-wide crown in any major counting stats? We get into all of it in the Longshot Awards Draft! Discord: https://discord.gg/CAK3mCCjSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year

The Toronto Raptors announced on Monday that Bobby Webster will remain as the team's General Manager and will head up basketball operations as the team will not be hiring a new Team President after all. In Episode 1926, Sean Woodley digs into the strange run of decision-making up top that very much makes it clear that Keith Pelley, Ed Rogers and the Rogers suits have fully assumed control of the franchise, why it's more encouraging that they've chosen Webster to run the show going forward than it would have been in if they hired Dwane Casey or Marc Eversley, and why it feels like a strange middle-ground decision that further underscores that the Masai Ujiri firing wasn't entirely (or at all) basketball motivated. Sean also gets into why the stability of keeping Webster around is good news for the team going into this season, and why it's reasonable to feel optimistic about where the team is heading under his leadership, even if there is a run of not-so-good decision-making in the front office's recent past. L