Is Armoni Brooks a keeper for Raptors?

The Toronto Raptors are eventually going to have to make a decision on whether they want to keep Armoni Brooks with the team for the rest of the season and even beyond. Amit Mann and Katie Heindl discusses what Toronto should do. Listen to the full episode on the 'Raptors Over Everything' podcast feed.

Video Transcript

AMIT MANN: Armoni Brooks said that Nick told him that you'd better be ready because you might play a second, or you might end up starting a game around here. It's just the way it is. And for him, who's on these 10-day deals, like, OK, so there's already enough pressure associated with that. Now, you're adding to that, I may play, and I also-- I may start. I don't know, you're going to have to find out.

But at the same time, you're going to be evaluating me and looking at me like a hawk the whole time when I'm on the court?

KATIE HEINDL: Like illogical torture, yeah.

AMIT MANN: Holy-- I mean, if he can handle that, then why can't he be a Toronto Raptor, right? I guess that's the reality of this. Armoni's been good. And I think a lot of fans have been encouraged by what he's done on the court.

And I don't even think we've seen the best version of him yet. Because in Houston, I mean, he was shooting 38% on 3's last season at seven attempts per game, very impressive. And even more impressive than that is that, like, he's hitting shots from 25 to 27 feet. His range goes well beyond the 3-point line.

And that's where he kind of-- that's where he posts up. That's where his catch and shoot position is. It's behind the 3-point line. So that's-- something like that, to me, it makes me think that he's going to be more open in a lot of cases. Those passing angles are going to be a lot easier to find him because he's that comfortable that far away from the 3-point line.

And then defensively, he's been a pleasant surprise. He seems like a really smart player. And he's got quicker feet than I thought. 6' 9" wingspan, right? 6' 3", but 6' 9" wingspan.

KATIE HEINDL: Fits right in.

AMIT MANN: Exactly, like a glove. Do you think the Raptors should keep Armoni, I guess for this season and also going forward? What are your thoughts?

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, I feel like there's no reason not to, especially toward the end of the season, especially because we're talking about roster deficits, you know, and trying to split up minutes to not overextend anybody. It makes a lot of sense. What I will say about his shooting in Houston, to-- like, apt point, 100%, but no one was defending anyone on that Houston roster most games. That's just--

AMIT MANN: True.

KATIE HEINDL: So he had a lot of room and he had a lot of space. But yeah, like, he's at an advantage if he can keep that up and shoot from that far out. I don't think it will keep up for long. The Raptors are just-- you know, they are a competitive team. And their opponents will clamp down on that a little bit quicker, I think, than Brooks found in Houston.

But yeah, I think it really presents-- its kind of a no-brainer, right? Like, at this point, if he's fitting in, if he's making some shots, if he's being psychologically manipulated, then why not just extend that 10-day out, you know, to see? Like, to the end of the season, and then see what everybody looks like going into the postseason, see where you're sitting, and see what seems realistic.

AMIT MANN: Yeah, in the end, like you said, it's about need. And right now, they just need 3-point shooting because a lot of their 3-point shooters are either laboring, or injured, or something like that. So he gives that ability.

And I've been impressed by his ability just to come in and hit shots. Like you said, I mean, he's not going to be getting probably seven attempts a game with the Toronto Raptors. But him being able to pop in late in the fourth quarter like he has done already, hit a couple of deep 3's late in the game, it's a pretty impressive quality that he has.

And even with the Houston Rockets, at least in 2020, like, he's playing around 10, 15 minutes a game. So he hasn't really been able to find any kind of rhythm throughout this-- I guess this part of the year-- certainly before in 2021, but this year, not so much. So I think he's kind of trying to find himself as well.

And he alluded to this the other day, that the time with the-- practicing with the Raptors is where he kind of does most of his learning. And so there's still a lot of loops for him to go through. And we know how many loops there are when you're trying to learn the Raptors system.

It's-- class is in session every practice, and you have homework and exams. And the exams are actually how you perform on the court. And for him, it's going to decide if he's going to get another 10-day deal or if they're going to end up signing him outright.

I'm not entirely clear on how that works. I think he's eligible for at least one more 10-day, or it could be like a COVID emergency kind of thing. But anyways, at some point, they've got to decide if they're going to sign him for the rest of the season.

And if he's able to provide a need, I mean, he's blossoming-- it seems like he's going to blossom into a pretty good shooter at age 23. He's already got disabilities. It's like you just got to get his stroke a little bit faster. And the Raptors love helping players with their jump shots. Give him a program, he's going to make things happen, I think.

So I would love to see him stick around. I mean, you can't have too many talented players on your team. And it's going to help clear things up for next season. Because they've got a lot of decisions to make with like, a Svi, a Yuta, like you mentioned, Chris Boucher. They've got to make some calls on if they want to bring these guys back or tell them, thank you for your service, and we'll talk to you next time. And why not put him in the fold and let's see how things go?

KATIE HEINDL: Some tough conversations en route.

AMIT MANN: Who makes-- who makes those conversations? It's probably Masai, right? He's not opposed to it.

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, but-- yeah, yeah. I'm trying to think if he would, like, it would come down the ladder. Whoever is telling them, Masai-- like, they're going to get a call from Masai.

AMIT MANN: Yeah, yeah, they would have to, right?

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, to just soften the bullet.

AMIT MANN: Soften the bullet.

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah.

AMIT MANN: Does he soften the bullet? I guess he would. He does have a-- I think Bobby would probably be the softest voice talking to you. Nick Nurse would just be like, well, listen, man, like, this is how things kind of go sometimes. It is what it is.

KATIE HEINDL: The thing with Bobby is-- it strikes me as like, he'd tell you, and then it wouldn't really sink in until-- like, he'd be walking away, and you'd be like, yeah. And then you'd be like, wait a second, I just got fired. You know, like, it would take a minute to sink in.

AMIT MANN: But yeah, man, so I think our time is up. But you were awesome with us.

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah.

AMIT MANN: You were so good. Like, I can't believe that game you had against the Denver Nuggets. You hit that shot. You were so good. But take it easy.

KATIE HEINDL: That's Masai. I think that's more Masai. Bobby's, like, kind of straight face.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

KATIE HEINDL: Just, like, kill you with sort of politeness.

AMIT MANN: Slick back his hair.

KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, he'll be like, you know, thanks for everything. And we'll keep in touch. And you're like, OK, yeah, we'll be in touch. And--

AMIT MANN: I don't have your number.

KATIE HEINDL: --you realize-- yeah, exactly.

[LAUGHTER]