UPDATE: Two Raptors players who should to play less and two who should get greater playing time

For Darko Rajakovic, the head coach of the Toronto Raptors in his first season, figuring out his rotations has been an enormous effort. Due to multiple player transactions, frequent injury absences, and roster turnover, starting lineups and rotations must be created from scratch for each game based on the players that are available.

Rajakovic should therefore be granted a Mount Logan degree of leeway when assessing his rotation choices. Erik Spoelstra is the only head coach who could handle the challenge. That being said, it is evident from examining the individual accomplishments of certain players that certain Raptors require less playing time, while others require more.

Starting with a player that injuries have forced out of his ideal role, let’s examine four such individuals and talk about why each requires a shift in playing time.

Kelly Olynyk should play less games.
It might seem pointless to argue that Kelly Olynyk should play less with the absence of Chris Boucher, Pascal Siakam, Christian Koloko, and Precious Achiuwa from the team, as well as the indefinite injuries to Jakob Poeltl and Boucher. Who else is going to play center?

It is obvious that Kelly Olynyk is playing too much for the Raptors; we’ll talk more about that response in a moment. Olynyk has the lowest plus-minus of any player the Raptors have on their roster this season; in his 13 games, the team has been outscored by 7.5 points per game.

The problem is made worse by the Raptors’ dearth of defensive forwards; as a result, Olynyk and RJ Barrett are playing heavy minutes as the “two bigs,” which is disastrous for their defense. Even worse, his offensive performance has been lackluster; compared to earlier in the Utah Jazz season, he has shot just 33.3 percent from outside the arc and his assist rate has dropped dramatically.

Since Olynyk is committed for the upcoming two seasons, the Raptors should try to limit his playing time, give other players opportunities, and use Olynyk in more effective lines the following season.

Jontay Porter should perform more.
Who on the roster will play a bigger role if Kelly Olynyk’s role is likely to decrease? Two-way center Jontay Porter is the solution; he’s more than just a warm body; he’s showed some genuinely thrilling moments and needs more playing time to see whether it translates to a bigger role.

Jontay Porter, a forward for the Denver Nuggets, is his brother. He has struggled with injuries that have prevented him from starting his NBA career. This season, he signed a two-way contract with Toronto and quickly became a star player in the minutes he played. Porter, who was called into action after Boucher was injured earlier this week, played 22 minutes on Monday night against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the defending champions, and he held his own admirably, scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting; the Raptors were +1 during his minutes.

Porter is a very good rim protector in drop coverage. He is large (6’11”) and strong. His offensive repertoire really shines when he passes the ball, as he possesses exceptional touch both near and far from the hoop. He resembles a less skilled, less experienced version of either Jusuf Nurkic, who plays at a more average level, or Alperen Sengun, who plays at a higher level; could he ever become something that approaches a full-time rotation player with those kinds of abilities?

It’s worth investigating, and the Raptors might find another undrafted gem in the rough if Porter can stay healthy and receive plenty of playing time in the remaining games.

Gary Trent Jr. should play less games.
Kelly Olynyk should play less because, aside from a few games, he has been a terrible player when he has been on the floor. Besides, he has two seasons left on his deal, so he has nothing left to show. Curiously, though, the Raptors should be playing Gary Trent Jr. less for the exact opposite reason.

In his limited minutes this season, he has performed admirably, shooting an astounding 40.2 percent from beyond the arc but only 44.3 percent from two points. He’s simply a 3-and-D wing who hasn’t been able to grow into a bigger role, so nothing he does the rest of the season is likely to have a significant impact on his value this summer.

The word on the street seems to be that Trent will not be returning to the Raptors when he hits free agency this summer. This season is practically finished with the Fat Lady warming up backstage, so Toronto shouldn’t be using their rotation by providing minutes to a veteran who is unlikely to return.

Players like Javon Freeman-Liberty and Jahmi’us Ramsey should have an opportunity to prove themselves in the closing stages of their careers and maybe alter the trajectory of their careers, while younger wings like Ochai Agbaji, Jordan Nwora, and Gradey Dick could receive a lot of attention. Playing Trent heavily for the remainder of the season doesn’t benefit Trent or the Raptors in any way.

Bruce Brown should perform more.
Pascal Siakam was traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a deal that mostly consisted of draft selections, with Bruce Brown serving as the primary matching salary. At the Trade Deadline, it was anticipated that Toronto would subsequently send Brown to a contending team, but they chose to keep him on the roster.

Since joining the Raptors, Brown has played very poorly. He is only making 25% of his shots from 3-point range on a meager volume, and the Raptors are losing by 6.7 points per game when he is on the court.

Brown has a $23 million team option this summer. The Raptors can choose to pick it up and move him to another team, decline it and negotiate a new deal, or let him walk. He has to play better in the closing stages and restore his value if they hope to make Door No. 3 possible. If not, there might not be any trading partners interested in acquiring him for that $23 million.

Although he is renowned for his defense, Brown is a reliable veteran player who has always been an underappreciated playmaker. It seems sense to believe that he will emerge from his slump and perform better in the final stages. Will it be sufficient to pique the curiosity of another team this summer in making a valuable trade? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s worth a try. Anyhow, anyone else is playing? The range of alternatives is rapidly decreasing.