The Raptors have secured their backup point guard for the foreseeable future.
According to a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Toronto Raptors and Jamal Shead have agreed to a contract extension that will pay Shead $24 million over three years.
Shead is set to make $2.3 million this season, and was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The extension will keep him under contract through the 2029-2030 NBA season.
The six-foot-one guard was drafted with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft after a long college career with the Houston Cougars. Shead has been a major revelation for the Raptors, as he’s blossomed into one of the league’s best bench point guards. Last season, Shead averaged 6.6 points and 5.4 assists while playing in all 82 games. Charania noted that his 354 total assists off the bench was the highest in the league and set a Raptors franchise record for a reserve.
Shead’s playmaking and his strong defense have earned him trust in the Raptors organization, as his minutes ticked up in the Raptors’ playoff series, going from 22.6 to 32.0. While his lack of efficiency, both as a three-point shooter and finisher present some obvious problems, he has made up for it with his effort and tenacity thus far. The deal is a solid bet on his continued development, and for Shead is an excellent deal to secure his second contract as a second round pick.
As the Raptors face a salary crunch over the next few seasons, locking this deal in with Shead gives them some clarity on their cap situation beyond this season, and if Shead ever develops a consistent scoring weapon, this contract could look like a steal.
