With the 45th pick, the Raptors select Jamal Shead

[CazOnReal]

[LoveMyRaps]

Please just fix his shot and then we got a potential all-star.

[LoveMyRaps]

Steady Sheady is the most obvious nickname.

[Scase]

Steady Sheady is the most obvious nickname.

Please no FVV comparisons, I already saw a couple ill-advised 3v1 drives into the paint against dudes 1ft+ taller than him lol.

[Rodrickle]

This dude will force himself into the rotation this year. Too valuable to not play

[aminiaturebuddha]

This dude will force himself into the rotation this year. Too valuable to not play

I was kind of hoping he'd get some 905 time, more for the sake of the other 905 guys than him, as I thought that playing with someone like Shead would really help guys like Chomche and Mogbo. But now I'm starting to wonder if the Raps ever send him down at all.

Even last night, when the Raptors were trying to keep the deficit manageable in the mid-3rd, Darko went to Shead first instead of Mitchell, unlike in the first half, because Shead had just played better. And then it was Mitchell with the deep bench guys in garbage time at the end, not Jamal.

He might officially supplant Mitchell as the first guard off the bench by as early as next week at this rate. He's that impactful.

[kalel123]

Was surprised at his speed. Wonder what his stamina is like cause he's going to need a lot of it playing that way.

If he can keep it up, Davion Mitchell just becomes a redundant expiring.

[MEDIC]

This dude will force himself into the rotation this year. Too valuable to not play

I was kind of hoping he'd get some 905 time, more for the sake of the other 905 guys than him, as I thought that playing with someone like Shead would really help guys like Chomche and Mogbo. But now I'm starting to wonder if the Raps ever send him down at all.

Even last night, when the Raptors were trying to keep the deficit manageable in the mid-3rd, Darko went to Shead first instead of Mitchell, unlike in the first half, because Shead had just played better. And then it was Mitchell with the deep bench guys in garbage time at the end, not Jamal.

He might officially supplant Mitchell as the first guard off the bench by as early as next week at this rate. He's that impactful.

I think Shead is clearly the better player between the two. When Mitchell is out there, he is just kind of steady on both ends, but you don't really notice much of an impact. When Shead gets into the game, you notice an immediate impact. Ball hanlders on the opposing team suddenly look uncomfortable & a bit shook. The pace picks up, etc.

I don't think the Raptors are in a rush though. 1st half, give Shead lots of 905 minutes & lots of 3 point shots to digest. Play him some backup minutes with the big club. Trade Mitchell at the deadline & give Shead all the backup minutes you can for the remainder of the season..

I do think he will be a man among boys in the GLeague. He will look too talented to be down there, but the goal will be to work with a shooting coach & get tons of shooting reps.

[MEDIC]

Was surprised at his speed. Wonder what his stamina is like cause he's going to need a lot of it playing that way.

If he can keep it up, Davion Mitchell just becomes a redundant expiring.

He is an athletic freak. He can dunk easily & will block the odd shot.

I looked up his Combine 3/4 sprint numbers. There were only 3 players in the last 24 years that had a faster 3/4 sprint time at the draft Combine.

[Psubs]

This dude will force himself into the rotation this year. Too valuable to not play

I was kind of hoping he'd get some 905 time, more for the sake of the other 905 guys than him, as I thought that playing with someone like Shead would really help guys like Chomche and Mogbo. But now I'm starting to wonder if the Raps ever send him down at all.

Even last night, when the Raptors were trying to keep the deficit manageable in the mid-3rd, Darko went to Shead first instead of Mitchell, unlike in the first half, because Shead had just played better. And then it was Mitchell with the deep bench guys in garbage time at the end, not Jamal.

He might officially supplant Mitchell as the first guard off the bench by as early as next week at this rate. He's that impactful.

I think Shead is clearly the better player between the two. When Mitchell is out there, he is just kind of steady on both ends, but you don't really notice much of an impact. When Shead gets into the game, you notice an immediate impact. Ball hanlders on the opposing team suddenly look uncomfortable & a bit shook. The pace picks up, etc.

I don't think the Raptors are in a rush though. 1st half, give Shead lots of 905 minutes & lots of 3 point shots to digest. Play him some backup minutes with the big club. Trade Mitchell at the deadline & give Shead all the backup minutes you can for the remainder of the season..

I do think he will be a man among boys in the GLeague. He will look too talented to be down there, but the goal will be to work with a shooting coach & get tons of shooting reps.

Shead was a senior at Houston and the main reason they were a #1 defense, so I think it's okay to give him ALL the backup minutes at PG. Heck his defense is already starter worthy. Davion doesn't create that well as a PG, where as Shead is a pure PG.

Davion Mitchell and Bruce Brown for ?

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Mitchell's barely an NBA player and he shot 36% last year (I don't know how).

That's the problem with both these guys. They can't shoot for beans.

[Scase]

This dude will force himself into the rotation this year. Too valuable to not play

I was kind of hoping he'd get some 905 time, more for the sake of the other 905 guys than him, as I thought that playing with someone like Shead would really help guys like Chomche and Mogbo. But now I'm starting to wonder if the Raps ever send him down at all.

Even last night, when the Raptors were trying to keep the deficit manageable in the mid-3rd, Darko went to Shead first instead of Mitchell, unlike in the first half, because Shead had just played better. And then it was Mitchell with the deep bench guys in garbage time at the end, not Jamal.

He might officially supplant Mitchell as the first guard off the bench by as early as next week at this rate. He's that impactful.

I think Shead is clearly the better player between the two. When Mitchell is out there, he is just kind of steady on both ends, but you don't really notice much of an impact. When Shead gets into the game, you notice an immediate impact. Ball hanlders on the opposing team suddenly look uncomfortable & a bit shook. The pace picks up, etc.

I don't think the Raptors are in a rush though. 1st half, give Shead lots of 905 minutes & lots of 3 point shots to digest. Play him some backup minutes with the big club. Trade Mitchell at the deadline & give Shead all the backup minutes you can for the remainder of the season..

I do think he will be a man among boys in the GLeague. He will look too talented to be down there, but the goal will be to work with a shooting coach & get tons of shooting reps.

This is what I've been saying, but was argued by some extremely knowledgeable posters that, that was not the case. He just applies much more pressure on the opposing team than Mitchell, he drives and looks to score. He's not a fantastic scorer, but the will to do it is there, with Mitchell there is virtually no offensive threat cause he's always looking to pass.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Watch on YouTube

This was just an amazing defensive possession by Shead.

Picks up Garland 3/4 court, making him shift his dribble 4 times just to get over half court.

Then fights over the first screen and sticks with him, thereby denying the first option (which I think was meant to put Jakob on an island guarding two people).

Comes back the other direction (even though Garland pushes him with his off arm to change direction) and prevents a drive into the lane on the right side, and a couple of other probing attempts.

Then on the switch fights around a double screen to get to the player receiving the pass at the same time as the ball.

Forces Merrill wide left, then cuts off a potential return pass to Garland.

Then stays straight up with arms wide on Merrill's desperation end of the shot clock 3-point attempt to make sure he avoids getting hit with a foul.

Just an absolute clinic.

[And1Skip]

Wait after 1 game, is Shead the leading scorer among rookies?

Edit: no that title has gone to Yves Missi

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_rookies.html

[MEDIC]

I was kind of hoping he'd get some 905 time, more for the sake of the other 905 guys than him, as I thought that playing with someone like Shead would really help guys like Chomche and Mogbo. But now I'm starting to wonder if the Raps ever send him down at all.

Even last night, when the Raptors were trying to keep the deficit manageable in the mid-3rd, Darko went to Shead first instead of Mitchell, unlike in the first half, because Shead had just played better. And then it was Mitchell with the deep bench guys in garbage time at the end, not Jamal.

He might officially supplant Mitchell as the first guard off the bench by as early as next week at this rate. He's that impactful.

I think Shead is clearly the better player between the two. When Mitchell is out there, he is just kind of steady on both ends, but you don't really notice much of an impact. When Shead gets into the game, you notice an immediate impact. Ball hanlders on the opposing team suddenly look uncomfortable & a bit shook. The pace picks up, etc.

I don't think the Raptors are in a rush though. 1st half, give Shead lots of 905 minutes & lots of 3 point shots to digest. Play him some backup minutes with the big club. Trade Mitchell at the deadline & give Shead all the backup minutes you can for the remainder of the season..

I do think he will be a man among boys in the GLeague. He will look too talented to be down there, but the goal will be to work with a shooting coach & get tons of shooting reps.

Shead was a senior at Houston and the main reason they were a #1 defense, so I think it's okay to give him ALL the backup minutes at PG. Heck his defense is already starter worthy. Davion doesn't create that well as a PG, where as Shead is a pure PG.

Davion Mitchell and Bruce Brown for ?

I agree with you. Shead deserves the backup role right now.

But for the sake of Sheads long term development & keeping some kind of trade value for Mitchell, I was thinking we just trot Mitchell out there between the start of the 905 season & trade deadline.

Hopefully a playoff team gets desperate for guard depth & we can get a pick or two.or a young player with upside for BB & DM.

[OakleyDokely]

Wait after 1 game, is Shead the leading scorer among rookies?

Edit: no that title has gone to Yves Missi

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_rookies.html

Shead 2nd
Mogbo 3rd
Battle 5th


tough night for the rookie class.

[Badonkadonk]

Watch on YouTube

This was just an amazing defensive possession by Shead.

Ridiculous possession. I just bought 905 tix for a couple of games and now I'm thinking I may not even see him down there. He's forcing Darko's hand.

[ConSarnit]

I think Shead is clearly the better player between the two. When Mitchell is out there, he is just kind of steady on both ends, but you don't really notice much of an impact. When Shead gets into the game, you notice an immediate impact. Ball hanlders on the opposing team suddenly look uncomfortable & a bit shook. The pace picks up, etc.

I don't think the Raptors are in a rush though. 1st half, give Shead lots of 905 minutes & lots of 3 point shots to digest. Play him some backup minutes with the big club. Trade Mitchell at the deadline & give Shead all the backup minutes you can for the remainder of the season..

I do think he will be a man among boys in the GLeague. He will look too talented to be down there, but the goal will be to work with a shooting coach & get tons of shooting reps.

Shead was a senior at Houston and the main reason they were a #1 defense, so I think it's okay to give him ALL the backup minutes at PG. Heck his defense is already starter worthy. Davion doesn't create that well as a PG, where as Shead is a pure PG.

Davion Mitchell and Bruce Brown for ?

I agree with you. Shead deserves the backup role right now.

But for the sake of Sheads long term development & keeping some kind of trade value for Mitchell, I was thinking we just trot Mitchell out there between the start of the 905 season & trade deadline.

Hopefully a playoff team gets desperate for guard depth & we can get a pick or two.or a young player with upside for BB & DM.

If Shead supplants Mitchell we are not getting anything for Mitchell, it just means Mitchell's on his way out of the league. He was already a salary dump and getting replaced by a mid-2nd round rookie isn't going to up his value.

[Reeko]

He can already play make and attack the rim well, if he can figure out his jump shot it's not only Mitchell that has to be worried about being supplanted...

[Dalek]

Wait after 1 game, is Shead the leading scorer among rookies?

Edit: no that title has gone to Yves Missi

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_rookies.html

We Missi-ed out. Sigh.

We now have Bruno Fernando to enjoy.