Former NBA player declares Jamal Sheed “better for the NBA” than Trae Young

The former NBA player had a positive outlook on the Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Sheed who came at the expense of the Washington Wizards star Trae Young.

Young ended his eight-year journey with the Atlanta Hawks this month. They traded him to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, seeing the need to move on as they found a core they could develop without having to compensate for Young’s defensive deficiencies on the court.

Meanwhile, Shead has become a regular two-way contributor for the Raptors this season. Although his shooting has room for improvement, he has shined with his playmaking and defensive skills.

Brian Scalabrine played 11 years in the league, winning one title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Now a commentator for Boston, he appeared in an interview on Sirius XM while revealed the main difference between Sheed and Young in today’s NBA.

“Jamal Sheed is probably better for the NBA than Trae Young right now. Jamal Sheed can guard; he moves the ball, he can get to the rim and make plays. Trae Young doesn’t guard,” Scalabrin said.

“Jamal Sheed is probably better for the NBA than Trae Young right now. Jamal Sheed can guard; he moves the ball, he can get to the rim and make plays. Trae Young doesn’t guard.”

– Brian Scalabrine 👀

(via @SiriusKSMNBA)
pic.twitter.com/iEpNo70KSKL

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 12, 2026

What’s next for Jamal Sheed, Raptors

Trae Young did a lot during his time with the Hawks, reaching the East Finals in 2021. However, his inability to improve as a defender limited what Atlanta could accomplish, resulting in the franchise trading him to the Wizards.

Brian Scalabrine believes Jamal Sheed provides more impact with his ability to play defense than what Young currently brings to his offense. Every NBA team adjusts to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses, meaning star players who can’t play offense or defense will be vulnerable to losing their spot in the league.

Toronto has a 24-16 record on the season, holding fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 1.5 games above the Philadelphia 76ers and two games above the Orlando Magic, while trailing the Boston Celtics by one game and the New York Knicks by 1.5 games.

After Monday’s game against the 76ers, the Raptors will prepare for their next contest. They hit the road to face the Indiana Pacers on January 14th at 7pm ET.