Why Ja'Kobe Walter Could Be Raptors' Biggest Surprise This Season

Shooting guard Gradey Dick was part of the package the Toronto Raptors sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Kawhi Leonard trade, and while most of the attention went to the star coming back, the player who left behind an open rotation spot might end up being just as important to what Toronto does this season.

Guard Ja'Kobe Walter benefits the most from the opening.

Walter played 72 games last season and averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20.5 minutes per game.

Those numbers are modest, but the shooting splits tell a much more interesting story.

He shot 44.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three on 3.7 attempts per game, and his efficiency only got better as the season went on.

After returning from a brief absence in January, Walter shot 44.3 percent from three and saw his minutes climb steadily through the playoff run, where he played 39 minutes per game across the final three contests.

The Raptors noticed.

Head coach Darko Rajaković said after a late-season win that the coaching staff believes in what Walter can become.

"There's a growing confidence with our group that he's ready for the challenge."

Dick's trade to the Clippers removed the one player who was competing most directly with Walter for minutes at shooting guard.

With Dick gone, the rotation opens up in a way that gives Walter a real chance to establish himself as a full-time contributor alongside the players Toronto is building around for the long term.

Walter is only 22 years old and entering his third NBA season.

At 40.9 percent from three on nearly four attempts per game, he was already one of the more reliable shooters on the roster last season, and the Raptors need that type of floor spacing next to forward Scottie Barnes and guard RJ Barrett.

Walter does not need to become a 20-point scorer to earn a long-term role on this team.

He needs to keep shooting at a high level, defend his position consistently on the perimeter, and take advantage of the extra minutes that are now available to him with Dick out of the picture.

The Raptors are in a unique position heading into the 2026-27 season.

They have legitimate playoff expectations building around their young core, and every role player who steps up and produces makes that core stronger and deeper.

Walter fits the profile of a 3-and-D wing who can grow alongside the stars, and this season is going to be a proving ground for several players trying to show they belong in a contending rotation.

The opportunity is sitting right in front of Walter, and his shooting numbers from the second half of last season suggest he is more than ready to take it.

If the three-point shot keeps falling at that rate and the defense holds up against starting-caliber wings, the Raptors might look back at the Gradey Dick trade and realize the biggest surprise of the season was already on their roster the entire time.