Toronto Raptors Guard May Have Played His Last Game Of Season

Players on two-way contracts in the NBA are only allowed to suit up for a maximum of 50 games for their team; any other action must be had at the G League level. Unfortunately for Jeff Dowtin Jr. and the Toronto Raptors, the backup point guard reached his 50-game limit Tuesday night and the team is faced with a tough decision today. 

Jeff Dowtin will hit his max of 50 active games tonight. For him to be available in the final 3 games + postseason, the Raptors will need to convert his 2-way to a standard NBA deal. Would expect that to happen before tomorrow’s game, with Joe Wieskamp most likely to be waived.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 4, 2023

The Raptors must convert Dowtin's deal two-way to a full, standard NBA contract in order to keep him eligible to play for the team in the season's final three games as well as the postseason. And with a full roster, the only way to do that would be by waiving someone currently on the roster. 

Dowtin has established himself as a nice piece off the bench, backing up starting point guard Fred VanVleet. Although he's only gotten into 10 minutes per game and averaged 2.4 points and 1.2 assists, his numbers have been up of late, averaging 14 minutes per night in the last seven, even playing 29 minutes one game. He has been a nice stabilizing force in the backcourt in the minutes he's played. "He knows how to play," said coach Nick Nurse recently.

As noted by Raptors beat reporter Michael Grange of Sportsnet, however, the only viable players who could be waived are Joe Wieskamp, Dalano Banton, Thad Young and/or the recently signed Will Barton. For various reasons, the Raptors are loath to waive any of them. 

And as Grange notes, this just could be another big example of Nurse and the Raptors front office just not being on the same page, and another hint that the head coach could be on the move after the season. 

 Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports