Davion Mitchell is unsung hero in Raptors win over Wolves

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Davion Mitchell’s nickname is ‘Off Night’ because of how his defence puts opponents off their game, but he has definitely been on so far this season.

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Acquired in a clever deal from a Sacramento Kings team that was desperate to cut salary, Mitchell has had a huge impact so far with the Raptors, despite posting career-worst two (51.5%) and three-point (28.3%) shooting numbers so far and a sky-high turnover rate.

How has he done it? Simple. He’s been awesome running the pick-and-roll with centre Jakob Poeltl, and he’s been outstanding as the team’s lead on-ball defender. Toronto went into the season preaching that doing a far better job than last year guarding the initial point of attack was a major priority and Mitchell has been hounding opponents, living up to his nickname.

Injuries to Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have forced the Raptors into playing Mitchell a lot more than anyone expected when the former ninth overall selection was acquired in a multi-player deal with the Kings that also returned the draft pick that became fellow point guard Jamal Shead (the Raptors convinced forward Sasha Vezenkov to waive the $6.65 million U.S. remaining on his contract and leave for Greece, something the Kings couldn’t do in time to still land ex-Raptor DeMar DeRozan with the cap room ditching Vezenkov and Mitchell opened up).

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While there have been bumps, Mitchell has exceeded expectations and could be in the team’s long-term plans if he keeps it up (he will become a restricted free agent this summer, with the Raptors able to match any offers). He is fourth in minutes played and leads all Raptors regulars in on/off court net rating (how they perform when a player is on the court vs. when he is off).

Toronto averages 4.7 more points per 100 possessions when Mitchell is on the floor, a solid number, but far from the 11 additional points they average with Gradey Dick on the court or the 9.9 with Jakob Poeltl. Mitchell’s impact is far more apparent at the other end of the floor. Toronto surrenders a whopping 121.3 points per 100 possessions when Mitchell isn’t out there (that would rank last in the NBA for any team), but only 110.7 (which would be a Top 10 number defensively for a team) when Mitchell is on. That’s a 15.3 points per 100 possessions difference.

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That defensive impact might level out with Scottie Barnes back, but Mitchell has made it clear he can be a major help regardless.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic had to choose between swapping out either Mitchell or Ochai Agbaji to make room for Barnes and opted to bring Mitchell off the bench. That was fine with Mitchell, who started only 32 of 227 games with the Kings. He made an instant impact, impressing Rajakovic.

“I think he pretty much changed the game,” Rajakovic said after Thursday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “He came off the bench and he was plus-20 tonight. I think he got into Anthony Edwards really well. He was really physical against him. And he just takes a lot of pride when he’s got guys like that. Even when he was asking to switch on Julius Randle. And he was confident he can guard him as well.”

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Edwards, one of the most talented scorers in the NBA, had an awful first half, with Mitchell playing a big role in that. When Edwards predictably caught fire, ringing off 11 points in the third quarter, it came with Mitchell on the bench. Edwards only managed a pair of free throws the rest of the quarter once Mitchell checked in. In the fourth Edwards only hit one shot and two free throws with Mitchell in the game.

And that’s how a player who missed all his field goal attempts and scored only three points manages to be one of the most impactful players in a game.

@WolstatSun

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