The Predators picked up their options for the rookie team up front Colin Murray-Boyles and wing I’m Kobe Walter for the 2027/28 season, the team announced today (Link to Twitter via Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca).
The value of the third year of the Murray-Boyles deal is $6.97 million, while the fourth-year option of the Murray-Boyles deal is worth $5.87 million. The Raptors have until Nov. 1, 2027 to decide on Murray-Boyles’ fourth-year option for 2028-29, which is worth $8.87 million. As for Walter, he will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next July when he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
While the offseason acquisition of a star forward Kawhi Leonard largely responsible for making the Raptors a more intriguing threat in the competitive Eastern Conference, young players like Murray-Boyles and Walter are expected to play important complementary roles in a surging team in 2026/27.
Murray-Boyles was selected ninth overall in the 2025 draft and averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game in his first NBA season, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. The former South Carolina standout was a revelation in the team’s seven-game first-round loss to Cleveland, averaging 14.4 ppg, 6.4 ppg and 2.4 apg while shooting 65.6% from the floor as a reserve.
Walter, meanwhile, has been fairly consistent in the Raptors’ rotation role since being drafted 19th overall in 2024, averaging 20.8 minutes per game in 124 regular season games. The 22-year-old took a step forward as a shooter last season, increasing his field goal percentage to 44.6% and his three-point percentage to 40.9%.
Murray-Boyles and Walter were the only Raptors with rookie-team options for 2027-28. our tracker shows.
