Raptors make intriguing contract decision right before NBA playoffs

The Toronto Raptors are converting two-way guard AJ Lawson to an NBA contract ahead of the playoffs. Before hosting the Brooklyn Nets with playoff implications on the line for the Raptors in their regular-season finale, Lawson will be available.

Lawson and the Raptors are tied with the Orlando Magic for sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, as his two-way contract was converted, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“The Toronto Raptors are converting two-way guard AJ Lawson to a standard NBA contract for the remainder of the season and the playoffs, Todd Ramasar and Mike Simonetta of Life Sports Agency told ESPN,” Charania reported. “The hometown product is in his second season in Toronto.”

AJ Lawson has averaged 6.7 points on 42.0% shooting and 2.6 rebounds in 49 games throughout the past two seasons.

Darko Rajakovic reacts to Raptors’ loss to Kings

Head coach Darko Rajakovic says the Raptors’ poor start to games has been an underlying issue. He addressed it after a 123-115 loss to the Kings, then the Raptors dropped only two of their last five contests, including a 112-95 defeat to the Knicks on Friday.

Raptors’ Rajakovic addressed his team’s approach, per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.

“We were trying, we were fighting back, we cut down the lead, but when you don’t approach the game from the start with the level of intensity and attention to detail that you need to have, this is the outcome,” Rajakovic said.

The Raptors (45-36) trail the Hawks (46-35) by one game in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers are also in the mix with the eighth-best record (44-37).

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