Toronto turned a camp invite into a two-way deal for a guard who shot well in a short run with Brooklyn last season.
The Toronto Raptors finished their roster work for camp this week, and the last move went to a guard who has spent years fighting for a spot in the league.
Toronto converted guard Malachi Smith's Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal on Monday, and the move became official that afternoon according to the league's transaction log.
That fills all three of the team's two-way spots, with guard Chucky Hepburn and center Trey Jemison already holding the other two.
The spot opened because the Raptors promoted guard Jaden Bradley from his two-way contract to the standard roster as the team's 14th man.
Smith was clearly thrilled with the news, and the Spokesman-Review shared his reaction from social media.
"Thank you Jesus… you get all the GLORY," Smith posted.
A Long Road to Toronto
Smith took the long way to this point.
He played college ball at Wright State and Chattanooga before finishing at Gonzaga in 2022-23, then bounced around four G League teams before the Brooklyn Nets signed him to two 10-day contracts in March.
That turned into a standard two-year deal, and Smith played 15 games for Brooklyn last season, averaging 8.3 points while shooting 43.5% from three.
The Nets then waived him in July as they cleared cap space, according to Hoops Rumors.
The shooting is the reason Toronto wanted a look.
A guard who can knock down threes always has a chance to stick, and a two-way deal lets Smith split time between the Raptors and Raptors 905, with the chance to play in up to 50 NBA games this season.
Where Smith Fits on the Roster
Minutes will not come easy.
Raptors Republic noted that Smith will be hard pressed to find playing time behind guard Ja'Kobe Walter, forward Jamison Battle and guard Alijah Martin, and forward Allen Graves is another young player pushing for real minutes.
The two-way spots are also not set in stone.
Center Nate Bittle, a camp invite, could take one of those spots with a strong preseason.
The bigger reason for the move is money.
The Raptors sit so close to the first-apron hard cap that they cannot carry a 15th player until later in the season, per Hoops Rumors, so they will open the year with 14 players on standard deals.
That makes the two-way players more important than usual, because they are the cheapest way to add depth when injuries hit.
This is a smart, low-risk move for a team with big goals built around forward Scottie Barnes and forward Kawhi Leonard.
The Raptors went 46-36 last season before losing to Cleveland in seven games in the first round, and they need every bit of depth they can find to take the next step.
Smith will get his first chance to show what he can do when media day arrives on Monday and camp opens the next day at Université Laval in Quebec City.
The Raptors open the preseason there against the Miami Heat on Oct. 3, and every shot Smith makes in October will help his case for a longer stay.
