1 obvious roster move Raptors must make to fix the bench

The Toronto Raptors thought that signing a veteran shooter like Will Barton would be the answer to their prayers, as their bench has suffered from a lack of experience, consistency, and quality. The poor 3-point shooting was the trait that really drove fans up a wall.

Barton, who came to Toronto over teams like the Celtics due to a connection with Raptors assistant Earl Watson, has not been the quick fix that many hoped for. In fact, the bench has been as inconsistent as ever when Gary Trent Jr. is not on fire from 3-point range.

Barton has been given a chance, but it has become obvious why the Wizards were so keen to get rid of him and very few teams around the league were vying for his services. Toronto might need to axe him from the rotation, with a waiving of either him or shooter Joe Wieskamp being strongly considered.

Promoting Jeff Dowtin Jr. and giving him a proper professional contract will enable him to be adequately compensated for a solid season while making him playoff eligible. Nick Nurse has often been quick to abandon bench combinations that aren’t working, and that could prompt Dowtin to come back into the fold.

The Toronto Raptors must consider promoting Jeff Dowtin Jr.

The Wieskamp multi-year contract was always a baffling move, as Dowtin has been with the team longer and has been more productive in his limited opportunities. Dowtin’s slim minutes may not afford him some gaudy numbers, but he has shown excellent traits worth developing.

On top of the fact that he has the passing skills to operate the offense like a traditional point guard, Dowtin has shown to be a very energetic defender that can disrupt at the point of attack. While no one will mistake him for Kyrie Irving, Dowtin has shown some competency creating for himself with the ball in his hands.

Wieskamp can stroke it when needed, but that’s the only above-average trait he brings to the table. Barton’s inefficiency, lack of defense, and poor performance after getting designated as the de facto backup point guard should prompt more interest in getting Dowtin back up to the NBA level.

The backup point guard issue can likely be fixed in free agency or the NBA Draft, but the Raptors need to consider a better short-term fix than continuing to roll Barton out in a role he is uncomfortable in. Toronto can fix their past mistake by finally giving Dowtin the contract he deserves.