Things got pretty miserable for the Toronto Raptors in the latter stages of the 2020-21 NBA season. The playoffs disappeared from view, the losses piled up, and the squad finished 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, missing the postseason for the first time since 2013. One positive was the play of newcomer Khem Birch.
The 6-9 center was signed for the remainder of the season by the Raptors on April 10 after being let go two days earlier by the Orlando Magic, the team Birch had played with since making his NBA debut in 2017-18.