Raptors sign Armoni Brooks: Will he be an impact bench player?

The Toronto Raptors have been kicking around all sorts of potential options when it comes to filling that 15th and final roster spot. While DJ Wilson made a ton of sense due to his performance and familiarity with Toronto’s scheme, it appears as though former Houston Rockets guard Armoni Brooks was also high on their list of free agent targets.

Wilson was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, as an injury forced the Raptors to part ways with him before his initial 10-day contract expired. With the lack of shooting critical at this point, Toronto decided to go down to the G League ranks to sign Brooks.

After the Rockets cut him loose at the deadline, Brooks signed with the Hawks’ G League affiliate. While the jury is still out on his long-term potential in the NBA, Brooks made his mark as a 3-point shooter. That was enough to get Masai Ujiri and Nick Nurse interested in his services.

The Raptors signed Brooks to a 10-day contract at the expense of Wilson. It remains unclear when he’ll first suit up for his new team. He was a net negative on the floor for a bad Rockets team this year, but Brooks’ sweet shot will be a welcome relief for a Raptors team that needs snipers from 3-point range.

What are the Toronto Raptors getting in Armoni Brooks?

Brooks averaged 11.2 points per game during the 2020-21 season. Of his 9.6 attempts per game, 7.9 were from beyond the 3-point line, where he shot 38%. After his production took a dip following the addition of Jalen Green to the rotation, Brooks was waived to make room for Dennis Schroder.

There are reasons to believe that his production with the Rockets is more than simply the byproduct of getting a ton of shots up for a lousy team. If he maintains his 2020-21 efficiency from deep with the Raptors, he could wiggle his way into a backup guard role beyond his initial deal.

With Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn both nursing injuries, Svi Mykhailiuk getting inconsistent playing time, and Dalano Banton a very poor offensive player right now, Brooks could have the opportunity to flourish if he gets on the floor.

Brooks getting released in Houston (where he went to college) may have stung, but the Raptors gave him a lifeline.

Brooks might have some issues finishing at the rim, but Toronto was intrigued by his blend of shooting and ball-handling. With some NBA experience under his belt and skills that Toronto desperately needs, Brooks has a good chance of staying with the Raptors past his initial 10-day deal.