Winners and Losers from Toronto Raptors 2022 preseason

Oct 14, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Christian Koloko (35) dunks during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Christian Koloko (35) dunks during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
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Toronto Raptors, Josh Jackson
Oct 2, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Utah Jazz forward Simone Fiontecchio (16) shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Josh Jackson (12) Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Losers: Josh Jackson + D.J. Wilson

Jackson and Wilson were released after the preseason finale, giving the final spot on the roster to 2021-22 holdover Justin Champagnie. While they didn’t end up making the team one can’t accuse them of not trying their absolute best to prove themselves to Nurse.

While Jackson started the preseason white-hot, he only hit one shot from the field in the final two games. Wilson had his moments on both ends, but the emergence of Christian Koloko likely played a part in Wilson getting the axe. It’s a shame that these two now face very uncertain NBA futures.

The Toronto Raptors couldn’t keep Josh Jackson and D.J. Wilson.

While not an “unfair” situation for Jackson and Wilson, it was clear that Nick Nurse was going to bring back Banton and Champagnie unless one of these two was so show-stoppingly dominant that it would be foolish to let them go. Neither of them reached such dizzying heights.

Those ins search of a silver lining should take solace in the fact that both of them proved they should be in the NBA in some capacity. They likely will not last on the free agent market for long, given the plays they put on tape in their tenures with Toronto.