The NBA season’s final stretch is here, following the All-Star Break and with March marking the last full month of games before the regular season concludes on April 14th. Over the next six weeks, the Toronto Raptors are set to play their remaining 22 games of the 2023-24 season.
However, with Scottie Barnes likely sidelined for much, if not all, of this crucial period, Toronto’s chances of making the Play-In Tournament seem slim. They currently trail 10th-place Atlanta by four games, with the Brooklyn Nets also ahead of them. As a result, their playoff aspirations seem dim.
This leaves the remainder of the season primarily focused on evaluating the current roster. The team must decide whom to prioritize for future development and who may face roster changes, trades, or non-retention in the upcoming offseason. A strong finish to the season could be pivotal in securing their future within the organization or even in the NBA as a whole.
Let’s examine four players whose futures with the Raptors are uncertain and discuss how a robust performance in the final quarter of the season could be crucial in preserving their positions.
No. 4: Jalen McDaniels
During the summer, the Toronto front office celebrated a minor victory by signing Jalen McDaniels, a versatile 6’9″ wing who had shown promise with the Charlotte Hornets two seasons ago before struggling with the Philadelphia 76ers last year. The Raptors saw potential in McDaniels and signed him at a bargain, hoping he would become a valuable rotation player.
However, McDaniels’ tenure with the Raptors has been a significant letdown. He has only averaged 8.6 minutes per game across 35 appearances, mainly filling in for injured players rather than securing a regular spot in the rotation. His shooting percentage of 32.7% from the field is particularly dismal; among all NBA players with at least 30 games played, he ranks last in this statistic by a significant margin.
With Scottie Barnes sidelined due to injury, Jalen McDaniels has an opportunity to secure more consistent playing time, but he’ll have to earn it. Whether it’s through stepping up his defensive efforts, refining his shooting skills, or demonstrating improvement in other areas, McDaniels is facing a critical juncture in his career where he must prove his value to the team. If he fails to do so, he could find himself on the brink of being relegated to minimum contracts and fighting just to secure a spot on an NBA roster.
