Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors are not afraid to shake things up with regards to the complexion of the roster. This team won a championship just a few short years ago, yet only four players from that squad remain on the team. The host of newcomers has done a solid job helping Toronto make a playoff push.
The Raptors have made it a priority to add tons of young players that bring length and versatility to the fold. Even with that directive shaping much of what Toronto wants to do on both sides of the ball, the Raptors haven’t been shy about adding glue-guy veterans as key reserves.
The Raptors have managed to make some very bold moves over the last few months to supplement a starting lineup that is carrying the load on offense. Adjusting to this scheme can be tough initially, but it looks like the veterans are starting to figure it out.
How are some of the new faces around this Toronto Raptors team performing? If Nick Nurse wants any hope of winning a playoff series this season, these three will need to take steps in the right direction.
Grading 3 Toronto Raptors newcomers in 2021-22.
In the name of setting some ground rules, this will include players acquired via trade or free agency. Rookies have their own list. Isaac Bonga and DJ Wilson haven’t played enough to warrant a grade.
Thad Young
Young was acquired from the Spurs in exchange for Goran Dragic with the expectation that he’d be a reliable experienced presence on the Raptors bench. After a slow start, Young has become a valued member of the reserve unit thanks to a skillset that is perfect for Toronto’s schematic identity.
On the negative side of things, Young’s field goal percentage and assists rate has gone down. However, Young’s been a much better 3-point shooter than he was in San Antonio. When paired with solid rebounding and defense, there’s been a lot to like about what Young has done in Toronto.
Thad Young has had nice moments with the Toronto Raptors.
Anyone expecting Young to be a consistent double-digit scorer may have been just a bit too optimistic. Even with him often coming into games as the seventh or eighth scoring option, Young is getting his daily dosage of points while making the bench even tighter defensively.
While he is a free agent at the end of this year, Young is playing well enough and providing enough veteran mettle to earn himself a contract for next year. If he starts getting his field goal percentage back above 50%, Young could emerge as the team’s Sixth Man.
Grade: B
Svi Mykhailiuk
Mykhailiuk started the season in electric fashion, earning some starts when injuries hurt the lineup and providing some quality scoring off the bench when everyone was healthy. Unfortunately, his lack of dominant 3-point shooting has forced Nurse to remove him from the rotation.
Mykhailiuk has only seen spot time at the end of games due to his shooting woes. When you’re shooting 39% from the field and 30% from 3-point range, it’s hard to fault Nurse for this decision. Mykhailiuk faces the real possibility of playing elsewhere next season if this keeps up.
Svi Mykhailiuk hasn’t been consistent for the Toronto Raptors.
There is still time for Mykhailiuk to get back on track. With OG Anunoby nursing an injury and Gary Trent Jr. in a serious slump right now, Nurse might need to turn to Mykhailiuk or Yuta Watanabe to give this bench a little extra pop. Svi may get his chance to rectify his earlier mistakes.
Mykhailiuk will likely get some extra run in the lineup while Toronto nurses back to health. If he doesn’t rediscover the same deadly shot that he had in Detroit and Oklahoma City, a return to Toronto might be too difficult to truly visualize.
Grade: C
Precious Achiuwa
This grade would’ve been much lower if this piece was written before the All-Star break, as Achiuwa’s lack of consistency and dominance on the offensive end would get even the most patient Raptors fans irritated. Luckily, Achiuwa has grown up before our very eyes on that end.
Achiuwa is averaging 13.0 points since the All-Star break while his 3-point shot has proven to be a valuable weapon for this attack. Considering how Toronto has lacked some serious bite on offense of late, Achiuwa has clearly been their best bench player in this stretch.
Precious Achiuwa is coming into his own for the Toronto Raptors.
Achiuwa’s defense was his saving grace early in the season, and it has remained excellent in the second half. For a second-year player with just one year of college, his ability to both defend multiple positions and handle bigger centers despite his height disadvantage has been very promising.
Precious won’t get out of the B tier until he becomes a better interior finisher, as he is still good for blowing one very makeable shot around the rim every game. Once he corrects that flaw, he will start to remind the Raptors fanbase why Masai Ujiri valued him so highly in the Kyle Lowry talks.
Grade: B+