Scottie Barnes and first-round pick Allen Graves are among a couple Raptors looking to take a step forward.
The Toronto Raptors return to action this Saturday for their first preseason faceoff against the conference rival Miami Heat who made a big splash this offseason, landing former Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Toronto has gone all-in on contending themselves, reuniting with 2019 fan favorite Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that sent away multiple draft picks along with Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick.
Besides the 35-year-old Leonard, here are a few other Raptors worth keeping an eye on with the NBA season right around the corner:
Scottie Barnes
The 25-year-old guard enters his sixth season with Toronto looking to build off a remarkable season in which he averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game through 33.5 minutes of playing time.
He has cemented himself as one of the Raptors' most reliable scorers, shooting 50.7% from the field and converting on 81.5% of attempts from the free throw line. He's also only missed two games this past season.
Still, Barnes' 3-point shooting will be something that he will strive to improve on with him only shooting 30.4% from beyond the arc.
Allen Graves
The 19th overall pick out of Santa Clara showed immense promise during Summer League play, putting up multiple 20-point performances across four appearances.
He had one of his best showings yet during the team's July 10 opener against the Boston Celtics, scoring 22 points while collecting 13 rebounds and three steals. He would also make two blocks that night.
Moreover, he had a solid season with Santa Clara even though they came up short to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He led the Broncos with 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game while also averaging 11.8 points and 1.9 steals.
Collin Murray-Boyles
The young forward should take a step forward in his second season with Toronto, showing a lot of potential during his rookie season in which he averaged 8.5 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 57.9% from the field.
He also showed out in the bright lights of the Raptors' series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs, particularly in Game 3. In that game, he scored a season-best 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting and collected eight rebounds.
Furthermore, his efficient scoring and ball handling should help him improve his chemistry with Barnes and the rest of Toronto's frontcourt.
RJ Barrett
The Toronto native will have a chip on his shoulder entering his third full season with his name being brought up in trade discussions with the Sacramento Kings as the Raptors continue their search for a viable backup center.
This past season, Barrett averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. His points per game were second on the team just below the now-departed Ingram's 21.5.
While losing a hometown kid like Barrett would certainly sting, possibly parting ways with him may be the decision that executive vice president Bobby Webster has to make in order to finally resolve a glaring need for an otherwise solid Raptors core.
