After his second season with the Toronto Raptors, free agent guard A.J. Lawson weighs his options as he contends for a permanent roster spot.
A.J. Lawson has endured a rollercoaster start to his NBA career. The Toronto native went undrafted in 2021 after three seasons at South Carolina, where he earned Second Team All-SEC honors as a junior while averaging 16.6 points per game. Over the next four years, Lawson moved between the NBA and G League, spending time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks on two-way deals without securing a permanent roster spot.
His opportunity with the Toronto Raptors ended up becoming the most meaningful stretch of his professional career so far.
Toronto signed Lawson to a two-way contract in December 2024 after he averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 11 G League starts with the Long Island Nets. By April, the Raptors converted his deal into a two-year, standard NBA contract.
Lawson is now an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s unclear if the Raptors intend to bring him back for another season.
A.J. Lawson Produced at Both NBA and G League Levels
Lawson appeared in 24 NBA games for Toronto this season, averaging 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game while shooting 42.2% from three-point range. His role was limited, but his shooting efficiency stood out on a roster that struggled offensively.
Lawson’s larger body of work came with Raptors 905. Across 36 G League appearances, he averaged 21.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field.
On Sunday, Lawson appeared on the “Hoop There It Is Show” to discuss what’s next for him and was optimistic about his future in the NBA.
“I feel like my body of work this season and my efforts and my talents alone will hopefully get me an NBA job next year,” Lawson said. “Praying for the best.”
The Raptors’ offseason situation, however, could complicate a reunion. Toronto enters the summer with several roster decisions looming and hefty salaries to accommodate. Sandro Mamukelashvili is expected to decline his player option and test free agency, there’s growing chatter around a potential Gradey Dick trade and Toronto also faces multiple depth concerns across its bench unit.
That leaves Lawson competing for one of a limited number of standard roster spots, either in Toronto or elsewhere around the league. At 6-foot-6, Lawson can provide length, perimeter shooting and defensive versatility on a contender team that needs reserve wings.
Whether that leads to another NBA contract remains to be seen.
