This offseason, J.P. Tokoto opted to put more pressure on himself for his rookie season than he necessarily had to.
Apparently unable to work out a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, who drafted him 58th overall, Tokoto opted to sign the one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum contract that teams have to offer second-round picks to maintain their rights. That means Tokoto will hit restricted free agency next summer, far earlier than most, but it also means he can be cut at any time without a guaranteed salary.
"It's just kind of believing in yourself," Tokoto said of the decision at media day Monday. "I like that kind of pressure."
Betting on oneself is sometimes necessary, as Jimmy Butler and K.J. McDaniels can attest to. Butler eschewed a long-term extension ahead of last season and played his way into a maximum contract. McDaniels, meanwhile, made the same move as Tokoto, signing the Sixers' required tender and ultimately earning a three-year, $10-million deal in free agency, far more than he would've made from signing a team-friendly, multi-year contract before his rookie year.
Tokoto's decision doesn't happen often, and his case may be a little riskier than that of McDaniels, as Tokoto isn't perceived to be as NBA-ready as McDaniels was. The UNC product was an All-ACC defender as a junior last season and should be able to guard three, possibly even four positions, and there's a reasonable chance Tokoto looks smart for taking the risk at this time next year.
Armed with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, terrific athleticism, and incredibly quick feet, Tokoto should have value for his ability to stay in front of ball-handlers and disrupt passing lanes. Even if his shooting stroke - the primary weakness in his scouting report - doesn't come along, he's a great passer from the wing and shouldn't be a complete zero on offense.
