Mitchell’s transition defence can help ‘fill a hole’ for the Raptors this season

Mitchell’s transition defence can help ‘fill a hole’ for the Raptors this season

all right thank you very much joined by TSN basketball analyst Javon Shepard and Javon summer league starts today the Raptors will have to wait till tomorrow to make their debut I want to talk about Devon Mitchell the Raptor’s new point guard he’s not playing here in summer league at 25 he’s considered a vet on this team but he is here getting acclimated to his new team his new teammates and look they could really use him they were 26th in defense last year that’s something that he brings to the table how do you think he’s going to fit in with the Raptors I think easily right when you think about the NBA right now the emphasis is on Pace the emphasis up getting a number of shots getting the three ball fast breaks but how do you stop that it’s stopping the basketball Davon Mitchell is the type of player that is going to get up into you play 94 feet they call him off night so think about that we spoke to him yesterday and he said he still has his straps still has good feet so he’s a guy that can stop you transition early stop you above the break and once you can do that you slow down opposing teams offenses so he fits in seamlessly and feels a hole that rappers have needed hasn’t developed the way that Sacramento expected when they used the ninth overall pick on him in 2021 but again still young and the Raptors are hoping that there’s still some untapped potential there needs to improve his three-point shooting but again just brings that defense toughness you mentioned off Knight I think that might be the best nickname in the NBA right now uh Switching gears a little bit let’s talk about somebody who is playing in summer league the big man Canadian Zach Ed for Memphis I mean he’s a polarizing player in that people don’t really know how his game is going to translate to the NBA what are you expecting for from him in his rookie season well for one he’s in the perfect situation in Memphis right he’s going to be paired and he’s going to compliment johnar a player that’s going to try and get downhill what happens there defenses have to rotate they have to step up and then transf a transferable skill set that Zach Ed does have is nobody can defend Above the Rim you start to throw him lobs there’s no defense up there right so he can finish that then you get Rim protection on the other side with his guys guys get into the basket he’s going to deter them he’s a good offensive rebounder and I think that’s where he’s really going to be beneficial to that Memphis team but we’ve seen him play early on and the rebounds the rim protection the ability to you know just tap baskets in tap the ball and around the rim that is impressive and those are the things that you’re going to look for from Zach Edy is he going to be a 20 and 10 guy probably not but if he can go out and do those little things he’s going to have an impact well this is a good opportunity for him to Showcase himself in Vegas and the young Raptors get their chance tomorrow when they kick off summer league against the OKC Thunder back to Sports Center

At 25-years old Davion Mitchell is too old to partake in the NBA Summer League, but the new Raptors point guard still joined the team in Las Vegas to get acclimated to his new teammates. Josh Lewenberg is joined by TSN’s NBA analyst Jevohn Shepherd to discuss what Mitchell can bring to the Raptors, and what the expectations are for Canadian Zach Edey in his rookie season with the Grizzlies.