While following the narratives around various Raptors players last season, the curious case of Davion Mitchell emerged as a particularly positive narrative, in my eyes. Toronto was able to snag Mitchell away from Sacramento in a 2024 draft-night trade, and it was an absolute steal. The Raptors took a chance on a still relatively unproven player, and it didn't cost them a thing.
Now, I wouldn't call Mitchell's time in Toronto perfect by any stretch, but I was more than delighted to see a hard-nosed, POA guard in the Raptors' pecking order. There were definitely moments where his offensive limitations or stretches of tunnel vision proved to be an issue in Mitchell's game, but as far as gritty and tough point guards go, Mitchell was simply a breath of fresh air (especially alongside the blossoming rookie guard Jamal Shead).
However, at the trade deadline, the Raptors ultimately decided to trade "Off-Night" to the Miami Heat in a deal that was essentially just a player dump.
In Miami, I would subsequently highlight how Mitchell fit seemlessly into the "Heat Culture" system where he emerged as one of their lone bright spots in what was a virtually horrid post-All-Star break in South Beach. Mitchell would shoot the ball efficiently, continue to be a tremendous on-ball defender, and still mirrored the solid playmaking he showed in Toronto.
Now that I think about where Toronto wants to head in this new era, I truly believe the Raptors could have benefited greatly if they hadn't acted so hastily in trading away Davion Mitchell. The contract he eventually signed in Miami (two years, $24 million) wasn't anything mind-blowing anyway. Though, I understand Toronto's motivations, like wanting to stay under the tax threshold and his generally perceived overlap with Jamal Shead.
Raptors should've considered keeping Davion Mitchell around
But with hindsight now — especially considering the topsy-turvy situation with Immanuel Quickley as the starting point guard — the Raptors could really use a Davion Mitchell-type right about now.
It's a bit of a sticky situation because I think, at some point, I'll say the same thing if Toronto can't keep Ochai Agbaji in town long-term either. I believe the Raptors' later decisions to extend players like Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram, and even the previous Quickley payday made a Mitchell extension nearly impossible ... at least on their priority list, that is.
A devil's advocate might argue that Mitchell wasn't quite the elite shooter a starting point guard should be, but yet he proved in Miami that he has it in him (whether or not you attribute that to wins). Nevertheless, for as good as Mitchell is as an on-ball defender, he's also stated that he has a wealth of growth to show as an off-ball defender, which is commendable.
It’s really one of those situations where, looking back, you wish things had gone better all around. To that point, I still believe Toronto ended up gifting Miami a godsend guard and gaining very little in return.