Raptors Lock In Martin on Two-Year Deal—Settling a Second-Round Bet

The Raptors have signed guard Alijah Martin to a two-year, $4.8 million deal, keeping the 39th overall pick from the 2025 draft in Toronto beyond his two-way proving ground. Per ESPN, the move came after the team extended a two-way qualifying offer last week, converting Martin's restricted-free-agent status into a standard roster slot.

Martin appeared in 23 games last season while operating on a two-way contract—the NBA's development pathway for players earning salaries below the luxury-tax threshold and occupying one of 14 guaranteed spots. That limited sample (23 games) is the operative constraint here. He didn't explode; he earned enough trust that Toronto decided to cash the option rather than let him walk. Second-round picks who stick in the league on full contracts within 18 months of draft night are not the norm. The Raptors' decision signals internal confidence in Martin's ceiling, even if his early season production didn't scream star potential.

From a roster-construction lens, this deal slots Martin into a clear tier: lottery-ticket guardrails. He's not a rotation anchor. He's a young guard with size and upside who'll compete for minutes in a crowded Toronto backcourt. The two-year structure (rather than one-and-done) suggests the team is building optionality—keeping him cheap and controllable while they evaluate whether his on-court minutes translate into meaningful offensive or defensive impact. That's a cost-control signal worth noting: when an organization commits draft capital plus additional guaranteed money to a 23-game sample, they're betting on development curve, not current win-share production.

For prop purposes, Martin's remaining role is the key variable. If he becomes a rotation regular—15-20 minutes per night—his scoring and assist lines could offer value as a deep-roster play for DFS. If he stays a two-way shuttle, bench appearances won't generate consistent betting volume. The signing itself doesn't move the Raptors' team-total or spread projections materially; Martin's 23-game footprint was already baked into last season's record. What matters is whether Toronto's front office sees him as part of next season's rotation narrative. Early evidence (the contract commitment) suggests yes, but the sample remains small enough that any prop angle hinges on actual rotation deployment once training camp starts, not on the deal announcement alone.