The Toronto Raptors returned to the playoffs this season with a chance to prove themselves a legitimate team in the Eastern Conference. As underdogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they could not afford to take things slow or ease their way into the postseason.
In the playoffs, rotations shorten, and coaches lean on their best players. Darko Rajakovic was forced to tighten his rotation to put his best team on the floor, although at the same time hindered by the absence of Immanuel Quickley in Game 1.
Who would replace Quickley in the rotation? It turned out to be A.J. Lawson, recently converted from a two-way contract. That meant other guards were left out in the cold, riding the pine as the Raptors turned to other options. Let's look at three players who entered on the fringe of the rotation and saw the door slam shut right in their face.
No. 1: Jamison Battle
Jamison Battle was found money as a rookie, an undrafted free agent wing with size and 3-point shooting ability. He has been just as good this season, a knockdown shooter and underrated rebounder who makes the Raptors better when he plays.
Playing Battle would have made a lot of sense for Toronto, shifting RJ Barrett to point guard and filling in Battle as an extra wing. His skillset appears perfect for the playoffs. Instead, he rode the bench, not seeing the court until Rajakovic waved the white flag and sent the scrubs in.
No. 2: Jonathan Mogbo
The darling of the Toronto Raptors front office, Jonathan Mogbo, has been outside of the rotation for most of the year, appearing in only 40 games and averaging just 6.2 minutes per contest.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers and their double-big starting lineup, however, it was possible that the Raptors went big with their rotation. Playing Mogbo as the direct backup to Scottie Barnes could have kept a stylistic match on the court.
In the end, however, that was always a long shot. Mogbo has not proven himself a quality NBA player yet, and for all that the front office loves him, that didn't translate into playoff minutes. Unsurprising, but still noteworthy.
No. 3: Gradey Dick
More of a surprise was Gradey Dick getting kicked to the curb. His role shrank as the season went on, but he played in 76 games this season. With Quickley out, it seemed very likely that Dick would be a part of the rotation.
A.J. Lawson getting the nod above Gradey Dick is the absolute indictment of how this franchise has failed to develop the onetime lottery pick, and how Dick has failed to deliver on his supposed greatest strength: his shooting. After shooting just 30.1 percent from deep this season, he left Rajakovic with no choice but to look elsewhere.
Not only was Gradey Dick kicked out of the rotation, but he likely sees that he is going to be kicked off the team, probably as early as this offseason.
Add us as a preferred source on Google