NBA rumors: Raptors missed golden opportunity to sign waived first-round pick

The Toronto Raptors have a full roster at the moment, as the signing of former Spurs wing and Iowa star Joe Wieskamp has officially fixed the roster at 15 players with the postseason coming up. However, an aggressive team would at least consider cutting one cheap bench player to make way for a high-ceiling addition.

Both Dalano Banton and Juancho Hernangomez are earning next to nothing and are collecting dust on the bench. While Toronto is dancing very close to the luxury tax, the Raptors should consider getting even closer to that line if they can add a high-end young player with room to grow.

After the Orlando Magic signed two-way forward Admiral Schofield to a professional contract, the team officially cut ties with former first-round pick RJ Hampton. After skipping college to play overseas with the New Zealand Breakers, Hampton was drafted by the Bucks, traded to the Nuggets on draft day, and shipped to the Magic as a rookie.

The Magic, who have a bit of a logjam in the backcourt, were unwilling to invest more developmental energy into Hampton. The Detroit Pistons, however, were willing to give him a shot, signing him to a contract after Orlando’s waive. The Raptors should be kicking themselves after letting him go.

NBA rumors: The Toronto Raptors missed RJ Hampton

Hampton has averaged 5.7 points per game on 44% shooting and 34% from 3-point range. While the raw box score numbers might be down, Hampton is improving on the efficiency problems that made him such a confounding case study in his time with the Magic.

Per 36 minutes, Hampton has averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his career while manning both guard spots and showing some occasional glimpses of high-end defensive play. While more of a leaper than a shooter, he’s far from a finished product.

The Malachi Flynn experiment is starting to run its course, as any minutes he earns seem to be based on circumstance rather than merit. Hernangomez and Banton don’t appear to be factors, so it will do the Raptors no good to lock this roster in stone and not even consider a player who could contribute in 2023-24 like Hampton.

No matter what happens with Fred VanVleet in the offseason, adding more guard depth is a must. Toronto could have gotten a head start on that quest by bringing in a player who was once considered one of the best young prospects in the game, but the Pistons beat them to the punch.