Why a Delon Wright return could make sense for the Toronto Raptors

After taking over, one of Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri’s first draft picks came in the 2015 NBA Draft, when he used the No. 20 overall pick to select a lanky Utah point guard named Delon Wright. Nearly a decade later, Wright is still plying his trade as an NBA backup.

Wright had a solid 3.5-year stint with the Raptors, serving as a backup with quality defensive skills who had some nice moments in the postseason. After being traded to the Grizzlies in the Marc Gasol deal, Wright has become a basketball nomad that has set up shop in Dallas, Detroit, and Sacramento.

Wright is coming off of a season with the Atlanta Hawks in which he averaged just 4.4 points per game despite averaging 19 minutes per game. Considering how he was routinely a double-digit scorer with the Kings last year, that offensive drop could hurt his free agency value.

The Raptors might be wise to buy the dip and bring Wright back as the team’s new backup point guard. We already know that Ujiri values length in the backcourt and has liked Wright so much that he used a Top 20 pick on him. With Malachi Flynn sputtering, Wright could link back up with his old teammates.

Delon Wright could fit on the Toronto Raptors once again.

Wright’s scoring dipped, but his efficiency percentages (45% from the field, 38% from 3-point range) are right on par with his career averages. With a higher volume of shots as Toronto’s first point off the bench, Weight can get his scoring back to the pre-Atlanta levels we remember.

Wright is still a pesky defender that can generate turnovers and bother opponents at both guard spots. Atlanta just was not a good place for him schematically. With Flynn lacking the defensive chops and offensive efficiency to match up with Wright as a player, a cheap one or two-year deal could help the Raptors get more bench consistency.

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Wright has a solid 1.156 points per shot attempt despite a meager usage rate for a guard. Toronto will give him a greener light as he transitions back to his old role of bench sparkplug. Putting Scottie Barnes at point guard with the second unit is a nice twist, but it might not be the most sustainable venture.

Wright’s numbers hide the fact that he has remained an effective player despite getting up there in age. While he was traded away by Ujiri, this front office will likely welcome him back with open arms if he can give them more juice on offense than Flynn.