The Toronto Raptors may have already sent shockwaves across the NBA by officially processing the blockbuster Kawhi Leonard trade, but head coach Darko Rajakovic might not be completely done reshaping the roster just yet.
According to reports from NBA insider Marc Stein, the Raptors have emerged as active suitors for veteran guard John Konchar, entering a competitive sweepstakes alongside the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. While Toronto’s front office must clear financial hurdles before finalizing any new additions, the growing interest in Konchar points squarely back to his deep-rooted history with Rajakovic from their shared days with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Darko Rajakovic Connection
Konchar, who turns 31 in March, spent the vast majority of his professional career carving out a niche in Memphis, where he averaged 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game before being flipped to the Utah Jazz in the Jaren Jackson Jr. blockbuster. Following a subsequent trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves and an immediate buyout, Konchar has found himself weighing his options on the open market—backed by a guaranteed salary exceeding $6 million that gives him the luxury of picking his next destination carefully.
For Rajakovic, a coach whose reputation was built heavily on elite player development and unearthing hidden gems, Konchar represents a familiar archetype. During their overlapping stints in Tennessee, Rajakovic played an instrumental role in helping mould Konchar from an unheralded, undrafted prospect out of Purdue Fort Wayne into a reliable, high-IQ rotation piece that the Grizzlies routinely locked up on multi-year extensions.
Konchar’s appeal is straightforward: despite a modest offensive profile, he is a dependable wing defender who has historically shot around 36% from beyond the arc. In a league that can never have too many versatile, low-mistake role players, Konchar fits the functional “3-and-D” utility belt that championship contenders covet.
Roster Constraints and the Battle for the End of the Bench
Of course, executing a signing won’t be a walk in the park for Raptors general manager Bobby Webster. Because Toronto is hard-capped below the first apron, any move for a veteran like Konchar would require a preceding transaction to clear up the necessary salary cap space to accommodate even a league-minimum contract.
Furthermore, if Konchar does make his way north of the border, he won’t waltz into guaranteed minutes. He would immediately be thrust into a fierce training camp battle against names like Alijah Martin, Jamison Battle, and seasoned veteran Kyle Anderson for the final few seats on the active roster. Given his lack of top-tier athleticism compared to some of his younger competitors, Konchar would start at a slight disadvantage, though his veteran savvy and familiarity with Rajakovic’s system could quickly bridge that gap.
Worth the Gamble?
While adding John Konchar is hardly the sort of headline-grabbing move that shifts championship odds on its own, it highlights the meticulous nature of roster building under Rajakovic. Keeping a proven system player out of the hands of Eastern Conference rivals like Miami, while reinforcing the fringes of the rotation with trusted personnel, is a classic hallmark of smart front-office management.
Whether Webster and Rajakovic ultimately find a way to squeeze Konchar under the cap remains to be seen. But as the Raptors gear up for an ambitious campaign following the return of Kawhi Leonard, securing every ounce of reliable depth possible could make all the difference when the grueling 82-game marathon reaches its boiling point.
