Toronto has committed to the long-term future of forward Collin Murray-Boyles and guard Ja’Kobe Walter, exercising the team options in each player’s contract. The decisions keep the two young Raptors with the franchise through the 2027-28 NBA season and provide continuity among the core of a roster still being shaped. Both commitments were announced on Tuesday, one day before Toronto opens its 2026-27 campaign against the Chicago Bulls at Scotiabank Arena.
Murray-Boyles received a third-year option after delivering a productive rookie season, while Walter’s fourth-year option rewards a steadier contribution during his second year in the NBA. The moves also underline Toronto’s willingness to retain talent selected in consecutive drafts, with the 6-foot-7 forward going ninth in 2025 and Walter going 19th in 2024.
Toronto backs its emerging core
The pair have already moved from relatively unproven prospects to dependable pieces in the Raptors’ rotation. Murray-Boyles brought energy and versatility to his first season, earning a place on the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. Walter, meanwhile, offered Toronto another option at the guard position while appearing in 72 games last season.
Securing both players means the Raptors can evaluate their young core without uncertainty over their immediate contracts. It also allows the organisation to concentrate on how those pieces fit around the existing roster rather than treating them as pending free agents.
Neither decision signals a complete roster overhaul, but together they establish a substantial part of Toronto’s foundation. The club now has the Murray-Boyles and Walter contracts settled through 2027-28, giving it time to develop them alongside the veterans and other young players assembled over recent seasons.
Murray-Boyles earns a third-year commitment
Murray-Boyles averaged 8.5 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists over 57 games last season. His work extended beyond the box score, as the rookie ranked second among first-year players with a .579 field-goal percentage.
He was also one of only three rookies to record at least 50 blocks and 50 steals during the season, demonstrating the defensive impact Toronto expected when it selected him ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The third-year team option represents the next step in that development. Toronto has seen enough in his first campaign to commit additional time, while Murray-Boyles continues to establish himself as a two-way contributor capable of influencing games beyond his scoring.
His development will be watched closely as the Raptors navigate a demanding schedule. The opportunity to block shots, contest possessions and rebound in traffic should make his eventual role on the floor more important than his rookie scoring averages alone suggest.
Walter gets a fourth-year option
Walter averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 72 appearances last season. Those numbers reflected his growth from the prospect Toronto drafted 19th overall in 2024 into a regular contributor.
The fourth-year option gives the 23-year-old guard greater security with the team and allows both sides to focus on the next stage of his career. For Toronto, retaining a player familiar with its system and offensive approach is especially valuable during a period of roster turnover.
Walter’s four-year commitment also creates continuity on a roster likely to feature several younger players. His ability to handle the ball, distribute the offence and defend multiple positions gives the Raptors options when constructing their rotation.
Retention arrives ahead of the season opener
Toronto’s first regular-season game of 2026-27 is scheduled for Wednesday night against the visiting Chicago Bulls. The timing makes the contract decisions particularly relevant: both players are already assured of remaining with the club as the new campaign begins.
There will be no open questions about their availability for the opener or the immediate future of their roster spots. Expectations should instead centre on how much each player can improve and whether the production can become more consistent over a full season.
The Canadian Press first published the report on Oct. 20, 2026.
Why it Matters
By exercising the options on Murray-Boyles and Walter, Toronto has made a clear statement about the value it places on its two most recent draft selections. The pair have already earned meaningful roles, and retaining them through 2027-28 gives the Raptors a stable young spine while the wider roster evolves. With the season beginning against Chicago, the focus now shifts from contract security to on-court growth: Toronto will expect both players to take on greater responsibility and help turn promising individual seasons into a stronger collective result.
