Toronto Raptors should try to keep D.J. Wilson around

After an impressive two-game spell with the Toronto Raptors, forward D.J. Wilson deserves another opportunity to stick around with the team.

When the Toronto Raptors found themselves with a desperate roster crisis, they called upon a number of players in the NBA G League to help them through what can be described as a difficult period at best.

With all of their starters missing on Boxing Day, the team suffered a hugely unsurprising 144-99 demolishing at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, following that up with a closer 114-109 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers after the return of Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr.

With so many G Leaguers playing on ten-day contracts, it was largely expected the Raptors would simply ride out the difficulties until everyone returns, with a small chance that the replacements could earn another opportunity should that return take longer than expected.

But little did they expect to find a player that looks as if he is deserving of a serious opportunity to stick around in the NBA, but that seems to be what the team has in forward D.J. Wilson, who has excelled in areas the team has needed this season.

Wilson, who had 142 games of NBA experience with the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets before signing his ten-day with the Raptors, has put up career-high averages in a number of statistical categories – a sign that he could be a positive contributor for the Toronto Raptors if given a longer time to impress.

Playing 23.5 minutes a game, Wilson has racked up an average of 12 points while throwing an obscene, and unsustainable, .727, seven rebounds (6.5 defensive), two assists and 2.5 steals while donning a Raptors jersey.

His performances would see him sit fourth on the team in total rebounds and even eclipse Trent Jr’s team-high 2.2 steals if he were to play more games for Toronto, and there appears to be some interest from the team in retaining his services beyond his ten-day deal.

According to Eric Koreen of the Athletic, head coach Nick Nurse believes that Wilson is deserving of another shot after his impressive performances, though there is still the possibility that the Raptors opt to return to their pre-COVID impacted roster when everyone is ready and able.

If the Raptors continue to have players stuck in health and safety protocols, there is the possibility that Wilson is able to sign another ten-day contract under the NBA’s hardship exceptions once again, giving him an extended period to show what he would be capable of in a more realistic scenario.

If he can impressive from the bench, outperforming some of the team’s current roster players, then there would be every expectation that the team would have to make some tough decisions over the future of one or two players in order to accommodate Wilson for a longer term.

Khem Birch is a good example of how a player can perform when given the opportunities, signing with the Raptors for three years and over $6 million a season after an impressive run to end the 2020/21 campaign.

If Wilson is given the chance to stick around and continues to show he has NBA-level ability, then it would be a sensible move to at least give him a deal until the end of the season to see if he has any long-term value to a team that is looking to return to the success of 2019 as soon as possible.