Toronto made a critical decision at the trade deadline regarding their backup guard situation, as rookie Jamal Shead and defensive veteran Davion Mitchell both had a case to warrant that role for the Raptors.
Given that Mitchell was due for an extension in the offseason and that the Raptors were a little tight on money after adding Brandon Ingram to the fold, it wasn’t a difficult decision to let Mitchell go in favor of the younger, cheaper option in Shead.
So they did just that, sending Mitchell to the Miami Heat for an expiring veteran contract in P.J. Tucker and a second-round pick, further opening the door of opportunity for Shead to prove his worth for the Toronto Raptors.
In Shead's last five games as the Raptors' backup guard, his performance has been less than stellar. The former Houston Cougar has recorded a negative plus/minus in four out of those five matchups.
It may seem a bit harsh to scrutinize Shead so much, especially since he's just a rookie. Although, it’s understandable given that Toronto clearly holds the 22-year-old in high regard. His tenacious style and constant hustle have drawn comparisons to guards of the Raptors' past, like Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. Be that as it may, Shead will need to find a consistent offensive rhythm to become a real threat out there on the court.
Jamal Shead must find his niche on the Raptors beyond intangibles
This was a similar discourse regarding Mitchell during his tenure with Toronto, as he was a key difference-maker on the defensive end; however, his offense could often prove to be a non-factor. It certainly doesn't help to known that Mitchell is thriving in his new environment of South Beach, averaging 10 points on 55% shooting from the field and 46.2% from three-point range as a member of the Miami Heat (with a seven-game sample size thus far).
Then you look at Shead's last outing for the Raptors on February 26 against Indiana, and his weaknesses are very telling. Shead played 20 minutes off the bench, went scoreless on the night, secured four assists, but recorded a horrid seven turnovers, finishing with a -12 plus/minus.
I’m confident in Shead's potential to eventually secure a consistently effective role. We’ve already witnessed his best performance on February 5 against the New York Knicks, where he achieved a career-high, even in the face of a Raptors' loss. But these long stretches of mediocre performances can only last so long before he gets lost in the shuffle, or the Raptors front office decides they made a mistake and opts for a different direction.
All hope isn't lost for the Jamal Shead experience; now it's up to him to make his case heard.