David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Dowtin Jr. Continues to Force Toronto's Hand as Contract Decisions Lurk
At this point, Jeff Dowtin Jr. has shown enough. He's not going to be an NBA difference-maker but he's proven this season he can hang with the big boys.
It's as simple as just understanding his role and knowing how to play, Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of Dowtin Friday night. The 25-year-old backup point guard has been reliable and consistent whenever he's been called upon and when it comes to cracking the Toronto Raptors rotation, oftentimes that's good enough.
"I think that he's a really good defender, first and foremost. He's really done a solid job," said Nurse. "I can't really remember a time he's not played pretty well for us. He's able to make a bucket, ... he's an adequate three-point shooter and he knows how to play."
With eight games remaining in the season, Dowtin is forcing the Raptors into a decision. He's been listed as active in 45 games this season and Toronto is quickly approaching the 50-game cutoff for players on two-way contracts. Complicating matters even further, Dowtin isn't eligible for post-season play on his current contract.
In reality, it shouldn't be too much of an issue for Toronto and the fact that it's taken the Raptors this long to convert Dowtin's contract to a standard deal is already a little perplexing. While Toronto doesn't have a roster spot for Dowtin right now, it shouldn't be too difficult to create one. Joe Wieskamp hasn't played rotation minutes in weeks now and Thad Young's tenure in Toronto appears to be coming to be nearing an end.
On Friday, Dowtin nailed a pair of mid-range jumpers, connected on a corner three-pointer, poked the ball loose for three steals, and had Toronto's offense organized in his season-high 29 minutes.
"He can play defense, can pressure those guards out there. Making the right plays, trying to put them in the right position. Keeping it simple," Pascal Siakam said.
That's the key to making the jump from the G League to the NBA, Nurse said. There are so many talented G League players who can dominate at the lower levels but can't seem to hack it when they get called up. The NBA is just so much faster, so much bigger, and so much more talented than the minor leagues that even the best G League players often struggle to acclimate.
"The guys that make the easiest transition understand that they're probably in some kind of role," Nurse said. "What is their skill that they can do to go up and play a role for an NBA team?"
Dowtin seems to understand that. He plays within himself, giving Toronto solid minutes off the bench and holding his own in matchups against opposing second units. For a team so bereft of backcourt depth, that's more than enough to earn a spot moving forward.
Further Reading
Raptors get up close Look at how rough tanking can be in blowout of Pistons
Aurora's Andrew Nembhard buries Raptors who fall in heartbreaker to Pacers
Raptors talk Precious Achiuwa & playing steady minutes on both ends of the court
