As many of us expected, the Toronto Raptors have converted 2026 second-round pick Jaden Bradley's two-way contract to a four-year standard deal. This, of course, reopened Toronto’s final two-way spot, and while it wasn’t the player I expected to get the call-up, it’s not a bad move at all. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Raptors have signed Malachi Smith, who played 15 games with the Brooklyn Nets last season, to a two-way deal.
Smith is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard with a profile that definitely makes him a useful two-way addition for this Raptors team. He spent four years in college, finishing his career at the University of Gonzaga, and went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. For the last several years, Smith has bounced around the G League and finally made his NBA debut last season with the Nets.
One thing that has stayed consistent for Smith throughout his basketball career is that he is a sniper from the outside. Last season with Brooklyn, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, but more importantly, shot 43.5 percent from three. Spacing the floor could definitely help Smith get burn with the Raptors next season, as their shooting is projected to be better but far from elite.
Smith is a smart swing by the front office
Outside of just being a sniper from deep, Smith is also a smart player. He knows how to play his role, values possessions, is a relatively low-turnover player, and can provide a little fight on the glass as a guard. Defensively, he’s not elite, but he's not bad either. He reminds me a lot of Bryce McGowens, who joined the Pelicans on a two-way last season and earned a standard deal by midseason. Both players have plug-and-play skill sets that fit into winning basketball.
We see in the NBA all the time why it’s so important to have that next man up, and how important it is to have two-way players your coach can actually trust.
The 26-year-old is going into the perfect situation to thrive, develop, and earn opportunity. Look at Jamison Battle as an example. He first came in on a two-way deal and showed that he could provide a floor-spacing boost from day one. This led to him eventually earning a standard deal and he now projects to be an important rotation piece this season. Smith could follow a similar path because his outside shooting could be so valuable for Toronto.
Smith likely won’t be some massive game-changer for the Raptors, especially this season, but he fits an archetype of player you can never have enough of. This is a great swing for the front office to take and could really pay off long-term.
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