Raptors sign hometown player A.J. Lawson as roster comes into focus

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With just days to go in the season, the Toronto Raptors completed a feel-good story, signing hometown player A.J. Lawson to a standard NBA contract.

The team converted Lawson’s two-way contract to a two-year NBA deal Friday after waiving big man Orlando Robinson and forward Cole Swider.

Lawson was born in Brampton and played basketball both there and in nearby Mississauga — sometimes with current Raptors teammate RJ Barrett — before heading south.

The 24-year-old went undrafted, but made NBA stops in Atlanta, Dallas and Minnesota and spent time in the NBA G League, including with Raptors 905 this season, before making an impression this year with the Raptors.

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After playing a total of 29 minutes in six games with Toronto from just before Christmas when he signed a two-way contract, in March head coach Darko Rajakovic started giving Lawson more consistent playing time and he responded.

Most notably, Lawson broke out for 32 points and 12 rebounds in a home win over Washington, then scored 28 two days later in another home win over Philadelphia and followed up with 18 in his next game.

He has averaged 12.9 points and 20 minutes in five April games, shooting 59% from the floor including 41.2% on three-pointers. Lawson also impressed the Raptors with his defensive intensity.

ESPN first reported Lawson’s deal, while Sportsnet reported next year’s portion of the contract is not guaranteed, allowing the Raptors flexibility to see how the off-season goes. Still, Lawson will now be a part of the team’s summer and training camp plans.

Lawson has become a popular figure around the team, partly owing to his close ties with scoring leader Barrett. The two played together on the Brampton Warriors club team and in middle school as youths, and then for a time at St. Marcellinus Secondary in Mississauga before Barrett left.

After his 32-point game, Lawson had said he was “grateful for the moment,” but looking forward to what would come next.

“It’s gonna be many more moments to come,” Lawson had predicted.

The Raptors roster for next season is starting to come more into focus. The roster limit of standard NBA contracts is 15. Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley likely are the starters, depending on how the NBA draft lottery plays out.

Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Battle bring the roster to 11. Veteran Garrett Temple and the franchise both want a reunion while the coming lottery pick would bring the number to 13 and Lawson is 14. Later Friday, the Philadelphia Enquirer reported forward Colin Castleton, who played in 10 games with Toronto this season on a pair of 10-day contracts before joining the 76ers, would also be signing with the Raptors. Like Lawson, Castleton will be in the mix for a spot on next year’s roster.

While spending in free agency on a mid-level target is a possibility, consider that unlikely due to the already-bloated payroll and luxury-tax concerns.

For those same reasons it’s hard to see the longest-tenured Raptor, Chris Boucher, returning and someone like Agbaji might even have to be dealt to avoid the tax, particularly if the team moves up in the lottery, which would mean paying the top prospect a lot more than, say, the seventh, eighth or ninth selection would command.

Teams also are allowed three players on two-way contracts. Currently, Ulrich Chomche and Jared Rhoden are taking up two of those slots. The team also owns Portland’s second-round pick and has been active in signing undrafted free agents like Battle last year.

Toronto plays at Dallas on Friday night and ends the season in San Antonio on Sunday. Year-end media availabilities are scheduled for multiple days next week, beginning with the players on Monday.

@WolstatSun