Raptors fans weigh in on the kind of player Toronto should target next as Kawhi Leonard’s return looms

Toronto’s offseason planning, at least from a fan perspective, is orbiting around a simple roster-building question: what kind of player should the Raptors prioritize next? A recent SB Nation Reacts survey, conducted through Yahoo Sports and the SB Nation network, asked the group of “most plugged-in” Raptors fans and a broader set of NBA followers what Toronto should target, framed by the possibility that Kawhi Leonard could return. The question matters for a team in the market for fit as much as talent, because the Raptors’ ceiling often depends on how well they assemble complementary roles around their primary creators and their defensive identity.

The survey’s framing centered on Bobby Webster’s job, not just to add star power, but to find the right “complementary pieces” if Leonard is again available for meaningful minutes. Leonard, known for two-way impact and high-end shot-making in half-court sets, changes the value of every other roster spot. When a team can project an elite wing defender and a reliable late-game option, the surrounding pieces tend to shift toward spacing, offensive organization, and bench production that can survive multiple lineups.

SB Nation Reacts is not a transaction report, and it does not claim what Toronto will do. It is instead a snapshot of what fans think is missing or most needed, collected through a weekly email survey that reaches Raptors supporters and then filters out into a wider national set of respondents across the league. As such, the results should be read as sentiment and roster philosophy, not as a forecast of GM action or an early hint of actual targets.

Even with that caveat, the question itself points to the key offseason fork. If Leonard returns as a functional piece, Toronto can pursue roles that make the offense harder to guard, such as a playmaking support option, a consistent perimeter shooter, or a secondary creator who can handle a heavier ball load when the top unit rests. Fans who emphasize defensive continuity may also value another wing or guard who can keep pace with modern offenses, because Leonard’s availability typically changes how aggressively teams can pressure the Raptors’ ball-handlers and how much help their defense can afford.

Leonard’s potential presence, noted in the survey’s premise, also highlights the balancing act the Raptors face between immediate competitiveness and roster sustainability. Teams that reorganize their lineup around a returning veteran often need to ensure the rest of the roster can produce without assuming peak health and full availability from every high-impact player. That is where “type of player” conversations become practical, because the answer can differ sharply depending on whether respondents prioritize floor spacing, transition defense, ball security, or lineup flexibility.

For what to watch next, the most important item is not the fan debate itself but whether Toronto’s front office activity, once it begins to take shape, matches the priorities fans are indicating. If the Raptors pursue a target type that leans toward shooting and offensive spacing, that would suggest they are building to maximize half-court quality around Leonard-like impact. If they instead focus on another two-way perimeter or a defensive-minded guard, the strategy would point to maintaining a similar defensive identity while still building workable offensive lineups.

The only certainty is that the Raptors’ offseason decisions will still be governed by basketball realities, including contracts, positional depth, and what options become available. A fan survey can highlight the direction supporters want, but it cannot confirm what the Raptors will actually pursue. Still, in a league where team-building fit can separate contenders from pretenders, knowing what Raptors fans believe is missing can be an early guide to what kind of roster story Toronto is trying to write this year.