Raptors Insider: Jack Armstrong’s TSN future in limbo as pre-season opener looms - Toronto Star

The networks are holding back their schedules until the future of the long-time popular broadcaster is resolved. 

Jack Armstrong has captured the hearts of Raptors fans across the country through his on-air game analysis and entertaining commentary.

QUEBEC—Days before the team’s first pre-season game, the question remains whether Jack Armstrong will be part of Raptors broadcasts.

Negotiations between the well-liked analyst and TSN about his role are continuing with the network scheduled to broadcast the Raptors-Miami Heat game here Saturday night, but there has been no resolution.

According to sources granted anonymity because of the delicacy of the talks that have yet to be completed, there is some confidence Armstrong will continue an association with the broadcaster and the franchise that’s existed for more than a quarter-century.

But no deal was in place mere days from the exhibition opener or any TSN broadcasts in the 2026-27 season. Until a new contract is done, Armstrong won’t be part of the show.

Complicating the situation is new ownership and an MLSE corporate structure that now has complete control of the Raptors, Leafs and sundry other entities. Without any shared ownership between Rogers and former corporate partner Bell (which owns TSN), sources say Armstrong is trying to work out a deal with TSN for at least its 41 regular-season games. MLSE is not part of those talks.

Armstrong wants to maintain a relationship with the Raptors that stretches back to 1998; TSN understands the value one of the most recognizable voices in the team’s history provides. But until a deal is struck, that voice has been silenced and only a last-minute resolution will get Armstrong on the airwaves Saturday night.

Questions about the TSN lineup are also keeping the Raptors from making public their broadcast plans for the coming season.

According to sources, TSN and Sportsnet are expected to have 41 regular-season games each. Sportsnet is likely to have play-by-play voice Matt Devlin along with analyst Alvin Williams and sideline reporter Danielle Michaud. TSN’s show would feature Devlin, either Armstrong or his replacement, and a new sideline reporter in Raegan Subban, who debuted on Tempo broadcasts and will replace the departed Kayla Grey (now with Amazon Prime Video for its WNBA coverage).

But a delay in TSN finalizing its plans has kept any announcements about TV, radio and which network gets which game under wraps.

All contract extensions are not equal, nor are they connected.

The Raptors locked up Jamal Shead on a deal Thursday that could stretch until 2030 (three years, with a team option on the third year) at a relative bargain price of $24 million (U.S.) in total. That’s far below the NBA average of nearly $13 million a year, fitting him into the team’s long-term budgeting plans.

But getting the six-foot-one point guard on an extended contract does not fit into anything the Raptors may or may not do with wing RJ Barrett, who is extension eligible now and could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Raptors and Barrett’s representatives have yet to start serious discussions on any extension for the Mississauga native.

There is no way Kawhi Leonard will carry a heavy load in Saturday’s Raptors pre-season opener. Leonard, who was forced to work out on his own all summer waiting for a trade to Toronto to become official, is being brought along slowly here.

“He missed quite a bit of time not being around our team … so definitely he needs time to ramp up and get ready,” coach Darko Rajakovic said here this week. “Just having him on the court with the other guys, officially now as part of the team, it’s been great. He’s very engaged.”

Leonard was held out of some full-contract scrimmages in practice, and expecting him to play anything close to even a half-game against the Heat on Saturday is unrealistic.

“We’re just taking our time,” Leonard said.

The Miami Heat were the second choice to face the Raptors in the pre-season opener. Originally they were supposed to play the Washington Wizards at the Videotron Centre, with the Heat beginning their exhibition season out of North America.

It would have given some juice to the first game ever in Quebec City’s world-class facility because it would have featured first overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa, former all-star Anthony Davis and Montreal’s Kyshawn George. But the league cut out trips to the Middle East, so the Heat stayed home and traded spots with the Wizards.

The consolation price for fans is that they should get the first Heat appearance by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The usual weekend mailbag rolls on this season. Questions to askdoug@thestar.ca are much appreciated. It’s filed mid-morning Saturday to appear Sunday on our website,  so get the questions in quickly.

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Doug Smith is a sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on BlueSky: @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social.