NBA Rumors: 3 Toronto Raptors Who Won't Be Back Next Season

The Toronto Raptors say that their rebuild is speeding along at an unexpected rate, and they hope to be in the playoff conversation in 2025-26.

The only downside of this season was, ironically, how they blew up their lottery chances in the second half with a surge up the standings. From a low mark of 8-31 three months ago in mid-January, the Raptors actually finished the season going 22-21 in their last 45 games, with a 30-52 record leaving them with only the 7th-worst record in the NBA, and very little chance of winning the draft lottery.

But when they're ready to truly compete again for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference next season, many of the names on the roster right now won't be around.

Let's have a look at 3 Toronto Raptors who likely won't be back next season.

Chris Boucher

The longest-serving Raptor, and the last link to the 2019 Championship team, Boucher, a Canadian, could very well be moving on as a free agent. He was glued to the bench from Feb. 26th onward, though it wasn't for a lack of respect of what he can do on the court, but more for 'roster management' (i.e. attempted tanking) purposes.

There are rumors that both sides would like to keep the relationship going after seven seasons, but the Raptors are hoping to stay under the luxury tax next year and they don't have a lot of room to play. They'll have $12.4 million to sign four players, including their draft picks. Depending on how much of a team-friendly deal Boucher is willing to accept, he likely will get a much more lucrative offer on the free agent market.

Ochai Agbaji

The Raptors have a team option of $6.3M on the versatile wing, and while that's a very desirable number for someone who provided as much in a complementary capacity as he did this season, it might also be valuable on the trade market. The wing is a crowded spot on the Toronto roster, especially after the addition of Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline.

Given his versatile skillset, and his cheap contract (for at least one year), Agbaji should bring in a nice return in a trade. After that, he'll be due a decent raise, which the Raptors, given all of their other big contracts, will not be able to afford.

Agbaji shot a sizzling 40% from three-point range this season while averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 rebounds.

RJ Barrett an offseason trade candidate for Raptors

RJ Barrett

Ok, this one hurts if you're a Raptors fan. The Canadian star has done nothing but score (and rebound and dish it) since coming to the Raptors in the OG Anunoby trade along with Immanuel Quickley last season. But with the acquisition of Ingram (for whom Toronto was even willing to trade Barrett, according to the rumors), the writing would seem to be on the wall for Barrett.

Insider Jake Fischer wrote in a recent column on the Marc Stein substack:

"The Canadian has two more seasons left on his current contract...at $27.7 million in 2025-26 and then $29.6 million in 2026-27. And before that final year arrives, Toronto will almost certainly be holding contract extension talks with Gradey Dick...

"Don’t forget that the Raptors also drafted Ja’Kobe Walter, another scoring guard, with the No. 19 pick last June. All of that makes Barrett someone who has to be monitored as a potential trade candidate once the offseason arrives."