Docs Website

54 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2026 Toronto Raptors Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win NBA Championship

by Spencer Toth - 10/14/2026

Toronto Raptors predictions Kawhi Leonard

The Toronto Raptors got back to the playoffs after falling short in three straight seasons, and there is now real optimism that the Canadian team can build on that momentum after a big offseason. There was no shortage of controversy around the trade, but it is hard to deny the arrival of Kawhi Leonard transforms the Raptors into a legitimate contender. A young core with a proven superstar is a dangerous combination, and the Raptors are itching for the year to get underway.
Doc’s Sports offers NBA expert picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

Toronto Raptors Offseason Recap

The trade took months to be finalized after Kawhi Leonard was involved in the Los Angeles Clippers salary cap circumvention scandal, but Leonard is officially back in a Raptors uniform. Leonard played one season with the Raptors before heading to the Clippers, and he helped bring the city their first NBA championship. It cost Toronto Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, two second round picks, and one first-round pick swap. Ingram had his moments during his lone season with the Raptors, but his inconsistency in the playoffs and lack of fit with the team made him expendable. Dick was falling out of the rotation too, which makes this very much a ‘win now’ trade for Toronto. 

Kawhi Leonard brings more than nostalgia with him to Toronto, as he is still an elite player at both ends of the court. His 27.9 PPG with the Clippers last year was the highest of his career, while his 1.9 steals per game were the seventh most in the league. The 35-year-old will eventually start to slow down, but for at least the upcoming season, the Raptors have an undeniable top-ten player in the league. 

Toronto lost a few depth pieces like Jonathan Mogbo and Sando Mamukelashvili, replacing them with Kyle Anderson, while drafting Allen Graves with the 19th overall selection and Jaden Bradley at 50th overall. All three will have roles to play this year, but they will be lower down the rotation with the Kawhi acquisition being the only impactful move this offseason. 

2026 Toronto Raptors Season Expectations

The Toronto Raptors won a championship every year that Kawhi Leonard has been on the roster (once), and they will be hoping that trend can continue this year. Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and he joins a roster that was top-five in the league in defensive rating last season. Ingram and Dick were subpar defenders and arguably the two biggest liabilities on the team, which leaves Toronto with a truly terrifying defense. Scottie Barnes has developed into a menace on that end of the court and finished fifth in DPOY voting last season, while sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles is already an elite on-ball defender in the paint. Once Leonard gets added into the mix, the Raptors will suddenly have one of, if not the best, defensive frontcourt in the NBA. 

On the offensive end, the Raptors thrived in transition, but looked like a lost team when the opposing defense had time to get set. They had the most fast-break points in the league while giving up the second-fewest, giving them a remarkable +6.7-point transition differential, the highest in the league in the last seven years. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett would not hesitate to chuck up shots from deep, but their low-percentage looks were not a recipe for success. Ingram was the closest thing they had to an isolation scorer, and the arrival of Leonard is a clear upgrade in that department. Leonard has no problem backing down an opponent in the post before pulling up in the mid-range, and that is exactly what the Raptors have been missing on the offensive end. They have the young legs around Leonard to not get stuck playing slow-paced basketball, and now they have their closer for when it matters most. 

One looming question with Toronto is health. Leonard has been plagued with injuries throughout his career and is probably capped at 70 or so games this season, while Jakob Poeltl’s back is no closer to being 100%. Poeltl is on a disastrous contract and is seemingly declining, which leaves them forced to swap Barnes in as the backup center if he is unavailable to play. Barrett and Murray-Boyles also each missed 25 games last year, which means the Raptors gamble on sacrificing depth for a star like Kawhi will backfire if the injuries pile up. 

2026 Toronto Raptors Schedule Breakdown

The Raptors open up the season at home against the Bulls before heading West for six road games in their next eight. They avoid too many major trips away from home this season, as they only have one road trip longer than four games, and that is a six-game swing late in the season. The highlight of their schedule comes during the cold Canadian winter immediately following the holidays, as they only have one road game between December 27th and January 16th. That includes home matchups against the Pelicans, Wizards, Clippers, Jazz, and Suns, all of which Toronto will be heavily favored for. 

2026 Toronto Raptors Betting Odds

The Raptors enter the year with a win total of 46.5 after going 46-36 last year. The oddsmakers haven’t bumped them up for acquiring Leonard, but that could be due to the fact the Eastern Conference improved greatly and a tough schedule for Toronto limits their upside. The Raptors are favored to make the playoffs with -275 odds to make it and +200 odds to fall short, but they may need the play-in tournament to do so with +150 odds to participate. Looking ahead to a potential playoff berth, the Raptors have +900 odds to win the East, tied for the fifth-shortest, and +2500 odds to win the NBA championship, tied for seventh in the league. 

In the NBA Cup, the Raptors take on the Pistons, Magic, Bucks, and Nets. Brooklyn and Milwaukee should be straightforward victories, while the Raptors just trail the Pistons for top spot at +200 odds to win the group. They have +1800 odds to win the NBA Cup with +750 odds to reach the NBA Cup Final. 

2026 Toronto Raptors Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Toronto Raptors have lots of playoff upside, and it would not surprise me for everything to click and for them to go on a deep, potentially title-winning, playoff run. Their defense is elite, especially in the frontcourt, and Leonard gives them the offensive upside they need to steal close games. However, the best ability is availability, and a shallow Raptors bench has me fading Toronto this year. The Raptors are a solid playoff team, but just like last year, they will struggle to really challenge the best in the East. They won 46 games in a weaker conference twelve months ago, and I am not all-in on Toronto to suddenly put up 50+ wins. For the first bet, we will take the Raptors to finish under 46.5 wins, but I have a plus money play I like even more. 

Toronto is +150 to qualify for the play-in tournament, and a seventh or eighth seed feels right for the Raptors. The Knicks, Celtics, 76ers, Pistons, and Cavaliers are all well ahead of Toronto in terms of top-end talent and depth, while the Heat, Pacers, Hawks, or Magic could easily steal the sixth seed at the season’s end. It is always better to chase plus money with season-long bets, and I like this prop over the Raptors missing the playoffs altogether at +200. They are incredibly unlikely to finish outside the top-ten with this defense, making the +150 play-in tournament odds the perfect sweet spot.

Pick: Toronto Raptors Under 46.5 Wins -110

Top Pick: Toronto Raptors to Participate in the Play-In Tournament +150

Get NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NBA Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers