The Raptors have spent the stretch before training camp trying to plug holes and add depth, but one quiet guard option slipped through their hands.
Toronto has already added Trey Jemison III on a two-way deal and brought in Andre Jackson Jr., two moves that fit the kind of roster-building the front office tends to favor. Jemison helps with size at center, while Jackson brings energy and defense, even if his offense still has a long way to go. But there was another low-profile free agent who might have made more sense than he first appeared.
That player is Jalen Pickett, who has now landed with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-way contract.
Pickett, 26, has been with the Denver Nuggets since 2023, when they took the former Penn State guard with the 32nd pick in the draft. He never became a household name, but he flashed enough in Denver to keep people watching.
His best stretch came in January 2026, when he scored a career-high 29 points in a wild 125-124 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He shot 11-for-20 from the field and buried 7-for-11 from three in that game.
That month was easily the strongest run of his NBA career. With his minutes jumping to 26.0 per game, Pickett averaged 8.5 points while shooting 43.0% from the field and 40.3% from deep, along with 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Denver declined his $2.4 million team option in late June, which pushed him into unrestricted free agency. Toronto did make a veteran addition of its own in Kyle Anderson, but Pickett was one of the quieter names available who could have fit the Raptors’ search for usable depth.
Instead, he’s Clippers-bound. That also means Los Angeles has now taken another player Toronto had an eye on, after grabbing 2026 summer league standout Jamarion Sharp as well.
Pickett doesn’t bring ideal size or standout defensive traits, but he does offer a physical, bully-ball style and real shooting touch. His career three-point percentage sits at 38.7 percent, and while he isn’t a high-volume scorer from anywhere on the floor, his mechanics are solid and there’s room for him to grow into a more meaningful rotation role.
Toronto’s backup guard picture may already include Jamal Shead, Alijah Martin, and recent draftee Jaden Bradley, but Pickett would have given the group another layer of depth and skill. He also would have been an interesting development project for the Raptors’ staff, whether on the main roster or in a two-way spot.
Now that chance belongs to the Clippers.
In Other News...
Windy City Bulls Just Opened A Rare Door For Overlooked Hopefuls
For players still chasing a foothold in the professional ranks, the G Leagues open tryout circuit has become one of the few legitimate doors into a league that usually feels sealed shut. This fall, five teams have already put their invitations on the table: the Texas Legends, Motor City Cruise, Windy City Bulls, Raptors 905 and Grand Rapids Gold, each spelling out when and where hopefuls can show up, along with the entry fee attached to the shot.
It is the kind of opportunity that can look modest on paper but carry real weight for fringe prospects trying to turn one workout into a longer look. Jonathon Simmons is the reminder teams and players keep in mind, since he used a G League tryout as his launch point to the NBA, and that history is part of why these open dates around the league, including the one in Torontos system, still matter to a lot of players who are one good day away from being noticed. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Reunion Buzz Around Kawhi Comes With One Massive Catch
The chatter around a possible Kawhi Leonard reunion has put Toronto back in a familiar kind of spotlight, the sort that immediately makes fans remember how quickly the franchise can change when a true difference-maker is involved. Leonards potential impact on the Raptors is easy to see, which is why the buzz around his return has picked up so much attention around the team and beyond.
What makes the situation especially intriguing is that the framework already includes a steep price for Toronto to pay if it goes through. Jeremy Lin has voiced support for the move and is hoping the league signs off soon, but until then the Raptors are left waiting on a rare chance to bring back a player whose presence would reshape the roster in a major way. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Jackson Jr Brings One Big Question To The Raptors
Andre Jackson Jr. is getting a fresh look in Toronto after the Raptors added the former second-round pick on an Exhibit 10 contract. The defensive-minded wing spent three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his calling card has long been his work on that end of the floor, where energy and versatility can still earn a player a real chance even if the offensive profile is thinner than teams usually prefer.
For the Raptors, the appeal is obvious enough: Jackson is the kind of low-cost, low-risk camp body who can compete for a spot and, if needed, keep developing with Raptors 905. The question hanging over the move is the same one that has followed him since Milwaukee - whether his defense can carry enough weight to offset the limitations on offense and give him a path onto a regular-season roster. [Read more 🡒]