The Toronto Raptors began the second half of the 2021-22 season in a very concerning fashion thanks to defeats against the Hornets and Hawks by 32 and 27 points, respectively. The once-feared lineup that was taking down Eastern contenders doesn’t look as mighty.
Not only is Fred VanVleet dealing with an injury that is making it tough for him to play at peak efficiency, but OG Anunoby could miss time with a finger injury. Players like Khem Birch and Chris Boucher will have to take on even more important roles soon as a result.
Toronto is making these changes right as one of the most important parts of the schedule is coming up. Sure, they include several consecutive games against teams that likely will be in the draft lottery, but that could put extra pressure on a team that needs to start picking up the pace.
The Raptors’ rotation is far from set, as injuries and ineffective performance have put even more pressure on starters like VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and Gary Trent Jr. to carry the offensive load. That simply can’t last if the Raptors have serious playoff ambitions.
The Toronto Raptors need to watch these 3 position battles.
3. Dalano Banton vs. Malachi Flynn
Banton and Flynn have been trying to prove their worth as a long-term bench piece, though both of them have seen their effectiveness jump all over the place. After Banton seemed to return to the rotation for good, it was Flynn who got more minutes in the Hawks loss and started against Brooklyn.
The two could not have more contrasting skillsets. While Flynn is a pick-and-roll dynamo that needs the ball in his hands to be as effective as possible, Banton’s 6-9 frame and energy on defense make him more of a schematic fit for Nick Nurse. Flynn might need a strong finish to lock up a 2022-23 spot.
The Toronto Raptors must pick between Dalano Banton, Malachi Flynn.
Flynn put a ton of pressure on Banton by scoring 18 points on 7-11 shooting in place of VanVleet in a dominant win against the Nets. As good as he was in that game, the Raptors likely have not made a firm decision on how the rotation is going to shake out over the next few weeks.
Flynn might have the upper hand right now, but inserting Banton back into the rotation after a few weeks on the bench helped snap him out of the funk he was in. These two are by no means done their friendly competition to get more minutes.
2. DJ Wilson vs…anyone?
The Raptors signed Wilson to a third 10-day contract on Monday, a sign that the Raptors could look to the former first-round pick to fill their final roster spot. While it is just a 10-day deal, the Raptors wouldn’t have brought Wilson back if they didn’t feel he could contribute in some meaningful fashion.
Wilson averaged 7.5 points per game in very limited action throughout his handful of games in Toronto. At 6-10 with some solid open-court athleticism and shot-blocking potential, Wilson could be promising enough to get some run in the next few weeks.
Will the Toronto Raptors find a role for DJ Wilson?
Wilson’s return coincides with a stretch in which Anunoby is hurt, Khem Birch is playing some of the worst basketball in his Raptors tenure, and the team as a whole lost two blowouts before they made things right against Brooklyn. That might be enough to convince Nick Nurse to give Wilson a try.
While it remains to be seen just how much he has progressed from his early days, it’s clear that Wilson has the skills needed to be a bench player on a fringe playoff team. If the need arises where Wilson can get some playing time, Nurse should not hesitate to throw him in.
1. Precious Achiuwa vs Khem Birch
Birch’s downturn in momentum came at a time when Achiuwa is playing some of his best individual basketball. While Birch received three fouls in four minutes against the Nets, Achiuwa hit double figures while showing off more of the jaw-dropping athletic ability Masai Ujiri has fawned over.
Stylistically, Achiuwa is the type of player that fits what the Raptors want to do defensively. Now that his offensive confidence has returned, it looks like he is clearly the better option when compared to a player in Birch that hasn’t made a shot from the field since before the All-Star break.
Will the Toronto Raptors start Precious Achiwua over Khem Birch?
If the Raptors are going to pick between either one of them in the starting lineup, picking Achiuwa has been the clear choice over the last few games. Still, Birch could manage to fight his way back if he is effective enough as a post presence to get his groove back.
Achiuwa might be the player with the better long-term future, but this front office invested heavily in Birch thanks to their three-year contract. Achiuwa’s inconsistency might leave the door open for Birch, but he’s been so locked in that he warrants more starts.