The Toronto Raptors have waived Chucky Hepburn and signed Jamarion Sharp to a camp deal, according to Sportnet's Blake Murphy. The 7-foot-5 giant now joins the Raptors for the rest of training camp and preseason after playing for Toronto in Summer League.
The Raptors entered camp with Trey Jemison III, Malachi Smith, and Hepburn on two-way contracts, a move that I personally wasn't a fan of. Two games into preseason, Nimari Burnett has made a clear case for staying with the Raptors as the regular season approaches, and now there is an opening for him. Burnett has embraced everything it means to be a Raptor since the start of the preseason: getting after it defensively, playing unselfishly, and showing strong fundamentals.
Burnett being such a winning player shouldn’t be a shocker to anyone who tuned into college basketball last season, as he won a national title with Michigan in 2026. There, he showed strong shot-making, defense, connective passing, and a very high motor—all things that have shown up with the Raptors in preseason.
With the final two-way spot now open, Burnett is off to a strong start after his play in Saturday’s win over the Clippers. The former Wolverine finished the game with 10 points and shot 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Burnett is forcing the Raptors hand with new two-way
While the Raptors need more frontcourt depth, they already used one two-way spot on a big in Jemison III, which could give Burnett an edge over Sharp. Burnett has shown solid three-and-D flashes on the wing and plays a connective style that would fit as a spot-minutes guy for the Raptors.
But even if Sharp gets rewarded with what was previously Hepburn's two-way spot, Burnett could replace Malachi Smith. Both players are capable of playing the two and three, and Smith’s struggles through the first two preseason games could work in Burnett’s favor.
Burnett has shown way more defensively than Smith, and for a team with a defensive culture like the Raptors, that matters. One thing I really enjoy about his game defensively is that, when he’s off the ball, Burnett’s arms are always extended so he can cover as much space as possible. He isn’t some crazy passing-lanes playmaker or a point-of-attack stopper, but his length and understanding of positioning and ability to read the game help him make a positive impact.
While both players are viewed as floor spacers, Smith being without a three-point make in preseason isn't a good look for him. Burnett shot 37.5 percent from three in his final college year, and his ability to play off the catch and reliably make corner threes could be very valuable alongside Scottie Barnes.
Something I wrote down in my game notes from the Raptors vs. Clippers game on Saturday was “Burnett could give this team 5-7 minutes every couple of games and impact winning.” That’s how I’d sum up why he needs to be on a two-way deal after preseason. The eye test, his ability to consistently make winning plays, and how he fits into the team's culture make him a valuable long-term piece the Raptors should invest in before another team does.
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