It might be Jamal Shead’s time now as the main backup guard to Immanuel Quickley in the Raptors’ plans, but just last season Toronto had the luxury of a two-headed guard duo with defensive ace Davion Mitchell also in the mix.
Mitchell cost the Raptors next to nothing to acquire at the 2024 NBA Draft, and it was even more crazy to see Toronto work their trade magic by offloading Jalen McDaniels’ contract and getting the 45th pick, which became Jamal Shead, along with a 2025 second-round pick from Portland. What Sacramento perhaps interpreted as a move to shed salary and save tax ended up being pretty much highway robbery for Toronto.
Mitchell was paired with Shead for a couple of months during the 2024-25 season, which led to a mix of good and bad results. Some nights I was impressed with how well the two guards worked together and could even take on similar roles when needed. Other nights, one would shine while the other struggled, and I remember writing several post-game pieces debating which one Toronto should keep. Since Shead was a rookie and younger, and Mitchell was due for a new contract in the subsequent offseason, it wasn’t surprising that Toronto offloaded "Off-Night" to Miami at the trade deadline.
Nevertheless, having a veteran — though it feels weird to say since Mitchell only started in 2021, but he came in as an older rookie — on your roster to mentor a young player can be incredibly impactful, even if they don’t stay together for the long run. Sometimes that short time spent together and building a relationship can be the spark that helps the young player grow, gain confidence, and develop more smoothly.
Toronto greeted a familiar face in Davion Mitchell on December 15 as they played against his Heat team, grinding out a tough but satisfying 106-96 win to snap their four-game losing skid. Jamal Shead, who’s quickly becoming a key Raptors leader and spokesperson, spoke to the media after the game to praise his short-term mentor and former teammate, highlighting how much Mitchell helped him grow and stressing his equally important role on the Miami Heat.
Jamal Shead reflects on time spent with Davion Mitchell on Raptors
A reporter asked during the post-game scrum: "... I know you didn't spend the entire year last year with him, but Davion [Mitchell] being a guy that coach mentioned, kind of, mentored you and kind of like taught you the ways when he was there. How weird was it now, you know, playing against him, and having the game you get did [sic] against him and his team?"
Mitchell's response was (YouTube link here):
"... It felt like training camp last year (smiles). You know, I think I learned so much from him in the three or four months that he was here, that I wouldn't be in this position I'm in right now without him. You know, I think, defensively and then offensively too, just seeing a small guard get into the paint, create, shoot the floater, or doing this at that point in time — I just took what I could from him while he was there, and he's been somebody I've been watching for a long time. So, it was really helpful that I got to be his backup as soon as I got to the league."Davion Mitchell, Dec. 15, 2025