Jamal Shead didn’t exactly light up the box score in the Raptors’ October 10 preseason game against the Clippers, but the shape of his night mattered just as much as the numbers.
In nearly 19 minutes off the bench, Toronto’s lead backup guard finished with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, added two assists, two steals, and one rebound, and went a perfect 3-for-3 at the line. The rough edges were there too: he missed all of his three-point tries, committed four turnovers, picked up five fouls, and ended the game at minus-8. Still, there was something encouraging in the way his offense opened up after halftime.
Shead started slowly, going 0-for-3 with two missed threes and a missed pull-up jumper. Then the third quarter arrived, and so did a different version of him.
He attacked with more force, hunted his own looks, and started getting downhill. That stretch produced a 4-for-5 quarter, including two clean finishes going right at rookie Keaton Wagler, a bucket off a screen, and a smooth pull-up over ex-Raptor Gradey Dick.
That kind of assertiveness could end up being the most interesting part of his preseason showing. Over his two seasons in Toronto, Shead has built a reputation as a playmaker, a relentless worker, and the kind of defensive “dawg” coaches trust.
Offensively, though, the fit has been messier. His shooting remains a work in progress, with Shead hovering around 32% from three in both his rookie and sophomore seasons.
His field-goal rate has also slipped, falling from 40.5% in year one to 36.7% in year two.
That drop has been a talking point before, and it’s easy to see why. Shead has already carved out real value in his current role, even early in his career, and he’s become one of the team’s more trusted voices.
The next step may be figuring out how to be more attack-minded without forcing a shooter identity that doesn’t quite fit. This preseason game gave a glimpse of that path.
There have been playoff moments, too, where Shead’s willingness to turn up the volume on offense stood out early in a series, even if it started to feel a little too aggressive by Game 5. The challenge now is finding the sweet spot. His size will always make the margin tighter against bigger defenders and shot blockers, but a more assertive approach may still be better than settling for difficult looks from deep or drifting into passivity.
He doesn’t need to take over. He just needs the right shots. If Shead can keep building on that mindset, the Raptors may get another step forward from a player they already rely on.
In Other News...
Jakob Poeltl Just Gave Raptors Fans A Reason To Reconsider The Frontcourt
Jakob Poeltls preseason run against the Clippers gave the Raptors something they can always use a little more of up front: signs of life. In Torontos 114-106 win, Poeltl was active for more than 21 minutes and looked sharper than he had in previous outings, with better movement and effort showing up throughout the night as the team tried to sort out its frontcourt rotation.
The bigger takeaway may be what this kind of performance could mean for the rest of the roster. Torontos coaching staff seems open to exploring how Poeltl fits alongside Collin Murray-Boyles this season, rather than treating the two as a strict either-or choice, and that makes Poeltls return to form more than just a preseason footnote. If he can sustain this level, it could give the Raptors a more functional and flexible look inside. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Added A Giant With A Real Shot To Stick
Toronto is taking a fresh look at Jamarion Sharp, the free agent center set to join the Raptors and compete for a two-way contract. The move adds another big body to a preseason group that is already at 21 players, so the front office will have to clear a spot before Sharp can officially settle in with the club.
Sharps path has been a winding one, even by the standards of a player chasing an NBA foothold. He previously landed a two-way deal with the Clippers before getting waived, then spent most of his time in the G League, where his defensive work earned notice and kept him on the radar of teams looking for size and rim protection. [Read more 🡒]
RJ Barretts Early Raptors Role Could Create A Real Offensive Problem
With Kawhi Leonard sidelined for Torontos first two preseason games, RJ Barrett has been asked to do a lot more of the organizing and creation than he likely will once the games count. The expanded on-ball responsibilities mirror the version of Barrett the Raptors leaned on in the playoffs, where he was more than just a finisher and had to help drive the offense. It has given Toronto a useful look at how Barrett handles added control, but it also highlights how different this group can look when the roster is whole.
Barretts current role is built around a heavy share of the action, and that can be a tricky thing to unwind when Leonard returns and reclaims the top offensive spot. If Barrett has gotten used to initiating so much of what Toronto does, the adjustment back to a more complementary role could take some time and affect early-season rhythm. The Raptors need Barrett to stay productive, but they also need the offense to settle into a pecking order that works once the lineup is at full strength. [Read more 🡒]