The Toronto Raptors will likely be in for a transformative offseason. With Fred VanVleet, trade acquisition Jakob Poeltl, and Gary Trent Jr. all potentially hitting the free agent market on top of the fact that Nick Nurse might not return as the head coach, Masai Ujiri has some big decisions to make.
Addressing Toronto’s lack of bench depth will likely be No. 2 on the priority list after Poeltl and likely one of either VanVleet or Trent is retained. Let’s hope you didn’t get too attached to any of these reserves, as the possibility of most of them returning for 2023-24 is unlikely.
That doesn’t mean the Raptors need to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are multiple players on this bench that are likely going to have their fit reevaluated, yet should still be around for next season. Be it through a lack of opportunity or solid play, they deserve one more crack.
This trio of Raptors showed enough during their inaugural season north of the border to warrant one of the club’s 15 main roster spots in 2023-24. Getting rid of them too quickly might be one way that Ujiri and the rest of the front office bungle the start of the offseason.
3 fringe Toronto Raptors players who must return in 2023-24.
3. Otto Porter Jr.
Porter came into the offseason with a nice updraft of hype in his sails, as he looked like the veteran shooter that this Raptors bench needed. While he had some nice moments in his limited action with Toronto, injuries once again limited him to just eight games all season long.
Porter, who signed a two-year contract last season, is such an injury risk that Toronto must supply themselves with depth to guard against any potential pitfalls. Having said that, Porter never really got a chance to show what he could do for the Toronto bench.
Otto Porter Jr. must prove his worth to the Toronto Raptors.
The last time we saw Porter, he was playing expert two-way basketball for a Warriors team that won a championship. Play even approximating that would have made a world of difference for the Raptors. Perhaps they could have jumped over Atlanta if Porter went off once or twice.
Porter’s 3-point shot has been consistently excellent throughout his career, meaning that he could come right in and make an impact from beyond the arc in his return. His health is a serious concern, but the Raptors should also give him one more shot due to his potential fit in this offense.
2. Ron Harper Jr.
Harper’s experience during his rookie season wasn’t atypical for most two-way players. He only suited up in seven games during garbage time, so it’s hard to make much of a judgment on his skills. His G League performance was very encouraging.
The former Rutgers star and son of the legendary Clippers, Cavs, and Bulls guard averaged 17.1 points. 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 29 regular season games while shooting 50% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. His unique build and skillset worked to great effect in the G League.
Ron Harper Jr. could become a solid player for the Toronto Raptors.
In all likelihood, Harper will be signed to the standard Raptors non-guaranteed deal with a chance to compete for a spot in the preseason. While the Raptors shouldn’t just hand him a spot, it’s worth seeing what he can bring to the table in a more expansive role. After all, the Raptors are the development organization, aren’t they?
Harper likely lacks the raw explosion needed to become a star in this league, but the same franchise and (largely) organizational structure that helped Fred VanVleet become a standout point guard should have no worries about trying the same with Harper. Maybe the bench gunner they needed was hiding in plain sight all along.
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.