As Colin Castleton's Raptors journey ends, following the limit of his two-way contract flexibility and Toronto’s decision not to retain him, they are exploring other options to finalize their roster for the remaining stretch of the season.
Announcing early today, Toronto would mark the arrival of 25-year-old sharpshooting forward Cole Swider to the team. After four years of college basketball, Swider entered the league as an undrafted rookie in the 2022 NBA Draft. He began his journey at Villanova and finished it at Syracuse.
Raptors welcome forward Cole Swider to the team on a 10-day contract
Swider has logged some time in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Detroit Pistons, but he’s really stood out as an effective scorer in the G League.
During his two stints in the G League this season, spanning 18 games with the Motor City Cruise and South Bay Lakers, Swider has put up some impressive stats: an average of 20.7 points on 48.3% shooting from the floor, a solid 44% from beyond the arc, along with 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in just over 35 minutes of play per game.
Swider has yet to establish himself as a high-impact player during his time on an NBA main roster. He has only appeared in 27 career games, with his most significant contribution coming during the 2023-24 season when he played 18 games for the Miami Heat.
Nevertheless, the talented 6-foot-8 forward will have the opportunity to show what he can do with the Toronto Raptors as the 2024-25 regular season comes to a close. Swider is expected to play a key role in the remaining games, especially since Toronto has been adjusting its lineups due to some star players being inactive or resting. This has made the Raptors' intentions to tank quite clear.
Raptors fans will have to wait to see if there's some hidden talent ready to emerge as a long-term reserve in Toronto. If you ask me, whatever Swider brings to the table is already covered by the 3-point shooting ace they currently have in Jamison Battle. But then again, you can never have too much shooting, right?
Maybe Swider will get another chance in Toronto, or maybe he won't. Either way, one thing is certain: during this 10-day contract, the former Villanova and Syracuse standout could experience more playing time than he ever has in his NBA career.