And there it is, ladies and gentlemen. The Toronto Raptors have secured themselves some size by going out and acquiring a backup big, which is something fans have been eagerly waiting for. Come on down, Trayce Jackson-Davis from the Golden State Warriors.
Raptors get some size after trading for Trayce Jackson-Davis
Things might be on the come-up regarding Jakob Poeltl's back situation, as recent updates about his ability to engage in contact and practice are trending positively — but Toronto has still gravely missed his presence. The contract might be one of the worst deals in the NBA at the moment, but games like the Raptors' unfortunate collapse to the Wolves on February 4 highlight where a 7-footer like Poeltl could have made a huge difference.
Now, Jackson-Davis is not exactly a 7-foot imposing presence — in fact, he stands at just 6-foot-9. Isn't that quite the coincidence, harkening back to the Raptors' longtime 'Vision 6-9'? However, while that might throw off some Raptors fans, it's important to recognize that TJD is not a bad rim protector by any means, despite being undersized. Any rim protection to take the load off guys like Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, with Poeltl still on the sidelines, is a win.
In addition, Jackson-Davis fits the Raptors' transition-style play, being able to run and utilize his fast feet, block shots, and score inside. While his first two years with the Dubs showed promise, TJD's role has diminished in Golden State this season, which definitely contributed to him being expendable.
Be that as it may, TJD is still young at just 25 years old (turning 26 on Feb. 22) and fits the Raptors' desire to find a low-cost, insurance option at the center spot. His $2.4 million team option puts Toronto in a position to see where he fits; if they decide he's not the right fit, they can simply let him go in free agency.
While I'm intrigued to see how Coach Darko can utilize TJD in the rotation, sharing minutes with guys like the flourishing Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili — it's worth noting some of Jackson-Davis' key weaknesses, which happen to be the Raptors' ultimate detriment. Jackson-Davis, despite being only a interior-centric big with no jump shot, struggles to make layups and it's been a key concern with his play in Golden State.
Trayce Jackson-Davis likely won't fix the Raptors' offensive and rebounding issues
In the 2024-25 season, TJD shot 43.7 percent on free throws, and this season, it's down to just 40.3 percent. Even worse, he can't shoot the three-ball and lacks the ability to hit mid-range shots, so if TJD isn't dominating with his lob finishes, dunks, and stout defense — he's a liability to have on the floor.
Toronto's options are limited with him, and we know how much the Raptors could use an offensive boost, sitting at 19th in offensive rating. Jackson-Davis also doesn't bring exceptional rebounding, which is another key area where the Raptors struggle — ranked 21st in the league for team total rebounds per game. This can be attributed to his limited run in Golden State as of late, despite strong earlier performances and solid rebounding at Indiana, but it remains concerning.
I don't want to sell TJD short before he even got a chance to suit up for Toronto yet, but it's far from the impact move that many Raptors fans had in mind for their team. He certainly fits the defensive identity Toronto wants to build, but his lack of offensive skills is almost like the Raptors' own specialty too. But again, if Toronto just wanted to duck the tax by any means necessary, then I'm sure they're happy to find a third-string option behind Poeltl (when he finally comes back) and Collin Murray-Boyles, who has earned every bit of his minutes.
We'll see how the Trayce Jackson-Davis experiment plays out.