Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Raptors Host Michigan's Jett Howard for Workout in Toronto
The Toronto Raptors have brought in Michigan's Jett Howard for a workout ahead of the June 22 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-8 wing shared a photo in Toronto on his Instagram story Sunday afternoon. Howard, the son of former NBA All-Star Juwan Howard, averaged 14.2 points while shooting 36.8% from behind the arc as a freshman for the Wolverines.
Howard fits a need for Toronto as a lights-out three-point shooter with deep range and offensive versatility. While he was mostly used as an off-ball shooter at Michigan, he showed he's comfortable nailing pull-up jumpers in transition and occasionally creating for himself off the dribble.
The knock on Howard coming into the draft is his defense. His size should make him at least a passable defensive player but his slow feet and questionable effort were exposed at times on the perimeter.
“I do question just how bad he really wanted it,” Michigan reporter Brandon Brown said of Howard's defense. “Mentality and effort and aggression can make up for some of (those physical issues) a little bit. I don’t know. He might not be wired that way.”
Howard has been tabbed to go a little after Toronto's pick at No. 13 in most mock drafts but the team's need for shooting is glaring this summer and if the other top shooters are off the board, the Raptors may be wise to reach a little bit and grab Howard late in the lottery.
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