Gotta hand it to Davion Mitchell. He made the most of a new situation, coming over to Toronto in what was largely a one-sided trade in favor of the Raptors. The team had acquired a defensive X-factor to bolster their lineup, and it's safe to say, the man they call "Off-Night" made his presence felt on that end.
But, with the Raptors also having a talented guard on the roster in rookie Jamal Shead, it posed a bit of concern regarding Mitchell's long-term fit in Toronto. I assumed he would stick around with the Raptors, seeing as a recent game showed both Shead and Mitchell could co-exist in the rotation, but the subsequent Ingram deal put a new spin on things.
It kinda draws comparisons to the days of having both Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet in Toronto at the same time. They'd work together in spurts, but it was clear Toronto only eyed FVV as the important puzzle piece moving forward. Wright would be subsequently moved in the 2019 game-changer deadline move that sent Valanciunas to Memphis for Marc Gasol.
Mitchell would be dealt on the morning of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, finding a new home in South Beach as a member of the Miami Heat. I've had my fair share of knocks on Mitchell this season, but overall, his time spent in the Six was a massive W.
Now, let's focus on the brighter future ahead for Toronto: the opportunity for Jamal Shead to break out has just grown with Mitchell's departure.
Opportunity knocks for Jamal Shead after Davion Mitchell trade
In his last two outings, Shead has given Raptors fans a sneak preview of what he can offer in an enhanced role.
February 4 vs. New York Knicks: 23 minutes off the bench, a career-high 16 points (on 7-for-12 shooting), nine assists, and three rebounds.
February 6 vs. Memphis Grizzlies: 30 minutes in his first career start, 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, four assists, and one steal.
While these stats might not stand out to the average NBA observer, Shead’s dog-like mentality and effective leadership as a rookie make him a promising piece for the Raptors.
He still has Immanuel Quickley ahead of him in the pecking order, but with Quickley frequently in and out of action, and both backup vets Davion Mitchell and Bruce Brown now out of the mix, Shead is set to be a focal point off the bench moving forward.
Even with the Ingram acquisition, this Raptors squad will likely continue to lose games in the 2024-25 campaign as they aim for a top draft pick and develop their young core. This should ignite a fire within Shead to make a name for himself and prove that the Raptors front office wasn't wrong to go all-in on him as the main backup guard for the foreseeable future.
You can't teach heart or hustle; those are qualities instilled in a select group of players. Jamal Shead embodies these attributes with a spirit reminiscent of Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry. We'll see how far Shead can go in his Raptors career, as the future looks bright.