Toronto Raptors: The biggest surprises so far in 2019-20

Stanley Johnson getting buried on Toronto’s bench

Stanley Johnson signed with the Toronto Raptors with no assurances of playing time, but the opportunity to be in a championship environment had to entice the 23-year-old.

To date, Johnson has been unable to carve out a regular role with the team.

Prior to Wednesday’s game in Brooklyn, Johnson has only appeared in 17 games this season. Despite all the injuries that have hampered the Raptors in 2019-20, most nights, Johnson has found himself on the outside looking in.

The writing was on the wall in training camp – we all remember Nick Nurse’s harsh comments concerning some of the new players brought in this offseason.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, with time and hard work, graduated from Nurse’s dog house, but Johnson has not. He remains at the bottom of Toronto’s rotation, alongside Malcolm Miller and Jamaal Magloire, who I have no doubt would still gladly bang bodies if Nurse ever needed an extra at the five spot. Magloire’s services would’ve come in handy against the Wolves, no? Do you really think Karl-Anthony Towns would’ve been able to handle the big cat’s heat? Nah.

Back to Stanley – the regular season still has plenty of games remaining. There is still time for Johnson to prove his worth before the postseason begins. The odds of him doing so remain slim, but Toronto has succeeded this year largely because players have bought into the “Next Man Up” philosophy. Johnson would be wise to do the same.

It seems unlikely that Stanley Johnson has a future in Toronto, but the way he goes about handling what has to be a frustrating experience will be critical to his future in the NBA. If he maintains a positive attitude and keeps working hard, not only could that lead to meaningful minutes with his current team, it will also serve as a sign to other teams that Stanley Johnson is merely a player in need of an opportunity to play.

There is still time for that opportunity to come with the Raptors.