The Toronto Raptors acquired Davion Mitchell from the Sacramento Kings this summer along with Sasha Vezenkov (who Toronto bought out) and the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (Jamal Shead) for Jalen McDaniels.
The acquisition of Mitchell was the Raptors’ biggest addition in the offseason.
Mitchell will have a big role in Toronto’s rotation, as he will be the primary backup point guard to Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors are going to lean on Mitchell’s defensive skills for this season. He’s one of the better on-ball defenders in the league.
“Thats the reason I’m in this league, playing defense, putting pressure on the ball, disrupting people offensively, I think that’s the reason I’m here,” Mitchell told reporters in Montreal.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic shared his expectations for Mitchell and what he wants to see him get better at this season.
“He definitely needs to bring that force on-ball defense, the way he can be disruptive on the ball. And he has a good track history of doing that at a high, high level. My conversations with Davion [Mitchell] go even further, like he needs to be better off ball. He needs to be better getting in the right spots, not falling asleep for half of a second. Just being as disruptive off the ball as much he is on the ball,” he said.
Rajakovic also expects Mitchell to initiate the offense with the second unit and play freely.
“I want him to get us in offense, what he needs to do is a really good job pushing the pace, like he cannot be bringing the ball up the floor slowly because that’s the not the style of game we want to play…and also I’m encouraging him to play free. If he’s got an open shot, I’m going to take that shot, I want him to feel comfortable playing pick-and-rolls and also finding his teammates,” Rajakovic said.
Mitchell is 26-years-old so he is still a developing player. In Toronto he has a great opportunity to reignite his career and become the best version of himself.
Kelly Olynyk discusses being part of Raptors 30th anniversary season
This upcoming season is an important one for the Toronto Raptors, being their 30th season as a franchise.
Kelly Olynyk grew up as a Raptors fan and is now playing for Toronto. He spoke about the milestone season for the Raptors via TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
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