While the starting five for this year’s Toronto Raptors already is set, there are still some good battles taking place at training camp in Calgary.

We know Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram will comprise the frontcourt starters with Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett the guards, but what about the reserves on what projects to be a deep squad, with more options available than head coach Darko Rajakovic will be able to utilize?

Here are the top competitions:

BACKUP WINGGradey Dick vs. Ochai Agbaji vs. Ja’Kobe Walter

While Ingram and Barrett both have averaged 33 minutes a game over their careers, eating much of the potential 48 minutes available at both shooting guard and small forward, keep in mind that we aren’t just talking about 30 available minutes there for reserves. That’s because Ingram has consistently missed large swaths of games over his career and Barrett only has played in 58 of 82 in each of the past two years.

All of this means the Raptors, in the present, will be looking for players who can slot in well coming off the bench, but at some point they’ll surely need a player or two able to step up and start for an injured colleague.

The Raptors would love to see Dick establish himself as a key piece. The 13th pick in 2023 is bigger and stronger and looking to show consistency for the first time.

Dick has had impressive flashes to be sure, some big games to start last season and good play late in his rookie campaign, but a player billed as the best shooter in his draft class needs to hit a lot more than the 35% of three-pointers he has connected on so far.

He’ll also have to at least get to the point where he’s not picked on defensively anymore to earn Rajakovic’s trust.

Agbaji, the 14th pick in 2022, finally put things together and was one of the more pleasant surprises of Toronto’s 2024-25 campaign. Agbaji hit just shy of 50% of his attempts, including 39.9% of his three-pointers while also playing excellent defence.

He’s angling for a new contract and is currently the best of the three contenders, but is he part of Toronto’s future like Dick and Walter, drafted by the team, appear to be, or will he be moved to get the Raptors under the luxury tax and to clear up the logjam a bit?

Walter, taken 19th in 2024, battled injuries as a rookie but closed the year well, getting after it defensively while also shooting much better in the latter months.

Jamison Battle (40.5% three-point shooting as a rookie) and A.J. Lawson, who had some big-scoring games down the stretch for the depleted Raptors, are both trying to get in the mix, too.

Our best guess: Dick gets the first crack at being the team’s sixth or seventh man (Jamal Shead likely fills one of those spots as Quickley’s backup) and, if he succeeds, Agbaji gets traded at some point to balance the books and the roster.

BACKUP BIG MAN

Rajakovic already has said free-agent signing Sandro Mamukelashvili will primarily backup Poeltl at centre, even though Mamukelashvili has played more at power forward on offence traditionally.

That’s how Kelly Olynyk, a player Poeltl has compared Mamukelashvili to because of the Georgian’s ability to stretch the floor while also having some creativity, was used by Rajakovic in parts of two seasons.

Olynyk had played plenty of power forward over his long career at other stops, but exclusively was a centre in Toronto.

Expect rookie Collin Murray-Boyles to make a push for a rotation role right out of the gates, rather than spend time with Raptors 905. He already has NBA-level strength and defensive instincts.

It’s unclear where Jonathan Mogbo fits in, barring a huge camp. Mogbo looked fantastic at times in March and April after an underwhelming rookie year, but still is quite limited offensively.

Murray-Boyles is the future in Toronto, but if Mogbo shows some unexpected offensive progress, he could leapfrog him in the short-term.

Our best guess: Murray-Boyles earns the primary backup role behind Barnes and his minutes increase every month as he continues to improve.

THE BEST OF THE REST

Sage veteran Garrett Temple, 39, reprises his role as bench mentor, but won’t really play unless things have gone very wrong for the Raptors.

The aforementioned Shead, who played a team-high 75 games, likely will see fewer minutes with Quickley healthy (Quickley played in only 33 games last season).

Lawson has NBA talent, but plays the team’s deepest position. Battle also plays some shooting guard, but is more of a small forward. Still, he’s also caught up in that intense competition at wing.

Young big man Ulrich Chomche will get another year of development in Mississauga, while fellow two-way players Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn should be joining him with the 905. They’ll try to show well there and earn a look in the NBA later in the season.

Wings Jared Rhoden and David Roddy and centre Olivier Sarr are trying to earn a roster spot.

@WolstatSun