With the Kawhi Leonard trade now official, the Raptors’ attention has shifted to the messy part of roster building: sorting out the last few spots before training camp.
Toronto’s financial situation is tight because Leonard’s huge contract hard-caps the team at the first apron, which limits what it can do with the final two roster openings. That’s why there’s been so much buzz around converting rookie guard Jaden Bradley from a two-way deal to a standard contract. The Raptors can afford to make that move, and if they do, it would open up a two-way spot for one of the camp invitees.
That’s where Nimari Burnett enters the picture.
If Nate Bittle’s health remains unclear, Burnett looks like the likeliest name to benefit if Toronto has a two-way slot available. The Raptors need more guard depth, and they could use insurance behind Immanuel Quickley, who has had trouble staying healthy for an entire season in Toronto.
Burnett brings the kind of profile that can make sense in that role. He can score both on and off the ball, and he has already shown he can knock down threes in college. For a team looking for backcourt help and spacing, that matters.
He’s not some unknown flyer, either. Burnett started all 40 games for Michigan last season on a national championship team.
At 6-foot-5, he’s a compact guard with a strong basketball IQ, the ability to handle the ball as a secondary creator, and the knack for putting points on the board. His college path ran through Texas Tech, Alabama, and then Michigan, where he finally settled in and made his mark over five seasons.
Last year, Burnett averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 37.5 percent from three.
Seeing him live in Michigan’s round-of-32 game against St. Louis made the case even clearer.
He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block, and two made threes. What stood out most was how composed he looked.
The game never seemed too fast for him.
That calm, professional feel is a big part of why Burnett makes sense if Bradley is bumped up from his two-way deal. Burnett struggled to find consistency in five summer league games, but the shot-making, versatility, and overall polish still showed through.
He also fills another need for Toronto: size. Outside of RJ Barrett, who looks more like a small forward than an off-guard based on his skill set, the Raptors don’t have a guard taller than 6-foot-4.
Burnett is listed at 6-foot-5 on some sites and 6-foot-4 on others, but either way, he would add length and a sturdier frame to the backcourt. He’s not an elite defender, but he competes, and that kind of effort can matter in a Raptors development system.
Toronto’s back end is still a tricky puzzle, but there are paths forward. Bradley looks like the obvious candidate to move into a standard deal once camp begins, and Burnett has the kind of game that could win the other opening if it comes down to a fight for the final two-way spot. He’s 24, he’s been part of a championship run, and he already plays with the look of a pro.
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