Raptors: Grading offseason newcomers after first handful of games

The Toronto Raptors remade their roster during the 2021 offseason, drafting Scottie Barnes at No. 4 overall and adding both Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic in a deal with the Miami Heat. The Raptors made a late addition to the squad when they added a backup shooter in Svi Mykhailiuk.

The Raptors might’ve started the season off in a complete funk due to their 1-3 beginning, but Toronto has now piled up three straight victories, including a slugfest against the Pacers that proved this team can hold their own against teams with elite big men.

While Barnes has been getting plenty of deserved praise for his growth during his rookie season, the Raptors’ season outlook might actually be determined by how well the new additions play given how all of them started the season with pivotal roles in the rotation.

The Raptors have welcomed plenty of new faces into the fold, and while some of them have already made some positive contributions, a few of the newcomers need to get themselves straightened out.

Grading the Toronto Raptors’ newcomers after seven 2021 games.

Svi Mykhailiuk

Mykhailiuk was brought onto a team that is deficient in shooting and was immediately inserted into the rotation in order to beef up Toronto’s ability to stroke it from deep. Buoyed by a strong game against Indiana, Svi has been a pleasant surprise so far on the off the bench.

Mykhailiuk has averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, all while making 53% of his shots and 42% of his 3-pointers. The fact that he’s making almost 70% of his shots inside the 3-point line should serve as an indication that he is capable of being a versatile offensive player with the ability to generate buckets in multiple ways.

Svi Mykhailiuk has provided the Toronto Raptors with shooting.

Mykhailiuk hasn’t been amazing on the defensive end, however, as he leaves a lot to be desired both on-ball and off-ball. He’s made a weird habit of turning the ball over lately as well, as his penchant for errant jump-passes can lead to some mistakes at very inopportune times.

Mykhailiuk isn’t dominating, but he was brought to Toronto to provide shooting off the bench, and he’s done just that while showing that he’s making strides as an interior finisher. He could improve this grade if he makes strides on the defensive end, as he would become a more well-rounded player as a result.

Grade: B