3 fringe Raptors players who deserve to return in 2023-24

1. Jeff Dowtin Jr.

Dowtin may not be a Raptor for much longer, as the team’s utterly baffling decision not to sign him to a proper NBA contract that would have made him playoff-eligible likely signals that the franchise is not too invested in his personal growth. While he might not return to the Raptors, as teams will likely give Toronto serious competition, the Raptors need to carve out a spot.

Even though Malachi Flynn’s contract has been fully guaranteed for next season, Dowtin has proven to be a more effective player than both him and potential returning player Dalano Banton. He’s shown he can be an NBA player, but it remains to be seen if Toronto will take advantage of that knowledge.

The Toronto Raptors need a player like Jeff Dowtin.

Dowtin has a quickness and intensity to his game that he managed to blend with non-stop effort and a smooth operating pace when he has the ball in his hands. The fact that Toronto didn’t think he was worth a potential rotation spot in the postseason is baffling.

While he is not going to determine the result of a playoff race or play-in game, it is still puzzling that his play was not rewarded with financial compensation like that of other quality two-way players. Hopefully, the book is not closed on Dowtin’s time north of the border.