Raptors news: Jeff Dowtin deadline approaching, Tracy McGrady rips Heat

The Toronto Raptors have been boosted by the performance of backup point guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. in the last few weeks. Dowtin, who is currently on a two-way contract, has beaten out two draft selections in Malachi Fynn and Dalano Banton that were hand-picked by Masai Ujiri.

Dowtin’s 4.7 points and 3.0 assists per game in the last three contests aren’t setting the world on fire, but they have helped Toronto pull off some very close wins against quality competition. When will the Raptors pay him like a rotation player?

Dowtin only has three games of eligibility left on his two-way contract. As per the terms of two-way contracts, Dowtin could be ruled inactive for the final few games of the regular season and the entire postseason. Toronto doesn’t have an active roster spot, meaning that one current player might have to be tossed aside.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet postulates that Thad Young, who signed a two-year deal with Toronto in the offseason, and Joe Wieskamp, who signed a standard Raptors multi-year non-guaranteed deal, are both potential candidates to be cut in order to make way for Dowtin. Based purely on merit, Dowtin has earned that accommodation.

More Raptors news

• Former Raptors star and current NBA analyst Tracy McGrady laid into the Miami Heat after the Raptors beat the brakes off them in Scotiabank Arena thanks to Scottie Barnes’ career night. McGrady said the Raptors proved the Heat must “revamp” their whole roster, claiming they look slow and bad in half-court situations.
• Chris Boucher, via Yahoo Sports, was very critical of sports gambling in “It’s just people want to put you in trouble,” Boucher said. “People want you to do what they want and what they see you for. And that’s the issue. And the betting is not going to make it better now with the parlays and all that.

NBA news

• The Sacramento Kings officially clinched a playoff spot with their victory on Wednesday night, bringing an official end to what was the longest postseason drought in North American sports. Sacramento will make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
• Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade, Becky Hammon and Gregg Popovich, and Tony Parker were among the notable names who were enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2023. After Chris Bosh was elected in 2021, the Raptors have now gone two years without an inductee.