Raptors’ lack of patience in evidence against Mavs

What thread ties rookie Maverick Jarrod Uthoff and veteran Raptors P.J. Tucker together? Have a read, and be surprised.

There was an odd moment late in Monday night’s Toronto Raptors – Dallas Mavericks game. Jarrod Uthoff and P.J. Tucker were opposing each other in garbage time – and right about now your reaction is: so what?

Uthoff was brought into Raptor-land over the summer as an undrafted power forward. He spent time with the big team in training camp before being sent to the 905. In late January, he was traded to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (love that name!) for Christian Watford and a third-round draft pick. Leaving aside such critical questions as: why make trades in the D-League and what does our minor league team need with a third-round draft pick, we find ourselves noting that Uthoff has been promoted to the Mavericks.

Congratulations to Jarrod; even if he’s never more than a cup-of-coffee guy in the NBA, he’s there now. No small feat for any hoopster, let alone an undrafted one.

Bailing too quickly

Here’s the nub of the matter – Uthoff and Tucker should have been triumphs of the Raptors’ scouting staff. Yet both were let go too soon. I’ve written before about how mystifying it was that Bryan Colangelo had the smarts to select Tucker with the 35th pick of the 2006 draft, then waived him after 83 minutes of playing time. There was chatter about the need to create a roster spot for Luke Jackson (who didn’t last long), so P.J. was the odd man out, but I’ve no idea how true that is.

NBA players arrive in so many ways other than the draft lottery. Fred VanVleet is a stubby, undrafted point guard, but he’s a productive rookie Raptor. Norman Powell is in Toronto despite being a #47 selection. Tucker remains a valuable member of a playoff-bound team, while the man who was selected #1 that year, Andrea Bargnani, is gone (he was gone while he was still playing).

Mar 13, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Dallas Mavericks forward Jarrod Uthoff (19) blocks a shot from Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) in the second half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Why throw away cheap players?

If your scouts have discovered a diamond in the rough, surely it behooves you to give that “free” (i.e., not drafted and ultra-cheap) talent some breathing room and time to develop. Why the organization, or perhaps just 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse, gave up on Uthoff is murky. However, the Raptors need depth at power forward. What if Patrick Patterson walks, or his bum knee forces him out of the game? You’re telling me there was a pressing need to dump Uthoff in favour of a 25-year-old career minor league shooting guard like Watford? I’m not buying it.

Uthoff may be in Dallas barely long enough to do a few more times what he did against the Raptors, namely, give the rotation guys some rest late in a hopeless game. But if he manages to keep his roster spot, and even become a contributor, I’m going to be miffed. Did someone make a wrong call too soon, just like with Tucker?

Don’t be cavalier with the free talent. You’ll live to regret it.