Toronto Raptors: 3 things to keep an eye on through the rest of 2020-21 season
By Ben Fisher
No. 2: The 2020 Draft Picks
Increased floor time for the Raptors’ 2020 draft picks, Flynn and Jalen Harris, might already be underway, albeit in earnest. Flynn was on court for a career-high 18:21 on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons, the third consecutive game in which he’s had more than 10 minutes.
And while his five points, four rebounds and two assists in a 14-point loss won’t bring about any “M-V-P!” chants, the 22-year-old does seem to be slowly building back up his confidence and assertiveness at the NBA level.
A spike in production from Flynn would have residual benefits throughout the organization. Team management will certainly be interested to see what they can count on from the San Diego State product heading into next year, so impactful performances now could carry important momentum moving forward.
More minutes for the rookie point guard would also help ease the burden on VanVleet, whose injury scare on Monday night stands as a reminder of his workload as the third-highest minutes logger in the NBA.
How will Jalen Harris perform for the Toronto Raptors?
As for Harris, a bad hip has kept the second-rounder sidelined of late, the latest chapter in what has been an injury and inconsistency-plagued rookie campaign that has made it tough to get a proper read on what he brings to the table.
Provided he recovers soon, the 50% three-point shooter in the G League bubble could quickly become a go-to option among the thin second unit of the Raptors.