The 15th spot

[caccia]

If JV gets injured again the season is over.

The backup plan has to be starting Amir Johnson at center and Hansbrough at power forward. I expect to see this combination tried out early in the season, for small ball. Those two guys really get after it.

As for Morais, I never heard of the guy, but it's fun to root for the underdog. He's from Angola, and it does not get any more "underdog" than that. But apparently, he has led his team to the World Championships.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201309020511.html

http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports...egypt-in-final

[LBF]

yeah i don't know why we invited another shooting guard. If JV gets injured again the season is over.

You're talking as if this season is actually going to mean something..It's quite obvious this year is a "write-off". We aren't set-up to be any sort-of competition this year.So, not too sure what you're worried about other than an injury being a set-back for Valanciunas individually.

[thead]

I can't find any good statistical information...so trust in ujiri on this one I guess

[phez]

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/...s/Summary/2953

FIBA Senior Team Events Stats

Year	G	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG	Place
2013	7	.418	.353	.773	4.6	2.0	0.9	0.0	15.9	Gold
2012	3	.483	.412	.750	1.7	1.3	1.0	0.0	13.7	5th
2011	7	.396	.362	.871	4.7	2.0	1.1	0.0	17.7	Silver
2010	6	.346	.250	.750	1.8	1.7	1.2	0.0	8.7	15th
2009	9	.454	.518	.807	3.6	2.0	1.3	0.1	14.7	Gold
2008	4	.413	.318	.778	2.8	0.5	1.0	0.0	14.8	12th
2007	6	.667	.625	.714	2.2	2.0	1.7	0.3	9.8	Gold
2006	6	.424	.357	.833	2.0	2.0	1.2	0.0	8.0	10th

Awards & Honors: 
MVP (2013 FIBA Africa Championship)
All-Tournament Team (2013 FIBA Africa Championship)
All-Tournament Second Team (2009 FIBA Africa Championship)

[Primer]

I can't find any good statistical information...so trust in ujiri on this one I guess

I found some stats.


FIBA Senior Team Events Stats
Year Event G FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Place
2013 FIBA Africa Championship 7 .418 .353 .773 4.6 2.0 0.9 0.0 15.9 Gold
2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournam 3 .483 .412 .750 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 13.7 5th
2011 FIBA Africa Championship 7 .396 .362 .871 4.7 2.0 1.1 0.0 17.7 Silver
2010 FIBA World Cup 6 .346 .250 .750 1.8 1.7 1.2 0.0 8.7 15th
2009 FIBA Africa Championship 9 .454 .518 .807 3.6 2.0 1.3 0.1 14.7 Gold
2008 Olympic Games 4 .413 .318 .778 2.8 0.5 1.0 0.0 14.8 12th
2007 FIBA Africa Championship 6 .667 .625 .714 2.2 2.0 1.7 0.3 9.8 Gold
2006 FIBA World Cup 6 .424 .357 .833 2.0 2.0 1.2 0.0 8.0 10th

Awards & Honors:
MVP (2013 FIBA Africa Championship)
All-Tournament Team (2013 FIBA Africa Championship)
All-Tournament Second Team (2009 FIBA Africa Championship)

Looks like he has a great 3point shot and is a decent FT shooter. Seems like a 3 point scoring threat to possibly bring off the bench.

[Doc]

Raptors Invite Julyan Stone & Chris Wright To Camp

As per Dougie boy:

Word is #Raptors to invite guard Julyan Stone, Chris Wright to camp along with one other player TBD; will be 17 at camp with 14 with deals

— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) September 13, 2013

[drunkmunky]

I would have thought after MU's africa trip he'd invite someone from his Africa campaign

Edit... I nvm. I was right. FIBA Africa lol

[Chr1s1anL]

I would have thought after MU's africa trip he'd invite someone from his Africa campaign

Massai always has to give an African a shot. He'll find another next for training camp as well.

[jrdyck]

There's a solid amount of video on him if you go through the Afrobasket highlights on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6oYpcbNqVw

0:16 - nice drive for the lay-in
0:59 - outlet pass, which seems to impress the commentators
1:08 - pull-up 3

[Chr1s1anL]

I would say it's between him and JuJu for the last spot.

[Mack North]

Deal with it.

[Chr1s1anL]

http://youtu.be/4EeF0RPq_Uk

[Chr1s1anL]

2013 Afrobasket MVP Carlos Morais To Raptors
1 Reply
The 2013 Afrobasket MVP Carlos Morais has received a non-guaranteed deal to try out for the Toronto Raptors at training camp in about two weeks from now according to Angolan sources.

Mariana Rodrigues of Desporto reported on an instagram photo posted by Morais that shows his name and picture on a MLSE identity card as a Raptors player.

Joe D’Almeida of Platina line confirmed the instagram picture and provided this quote from the player (translated from Portuguese).

“It depends only on me achieving this great goal. If all goes as hoped, the contract can be a reality, but it all depends on a few factors.”

Basically, if everything goes well, Morais believes he can get a contract with the Raptors.

Morais is a 6’4” 27-year-old shooting guard who plays professionally in Angola and has been the star of the Angolan National team for several years. He is primarily a three-point shooter and in his 7 games at the 2013 Afrobasket, he averaged 7.3 three-point attempts per game. At the tournament, he averaged 15.9 points and collected 4.6 rebounds per game. In the championship game versus Egypt he had 21 points and 8 rebounds while hitting 4 three-pointers as Angola won 57-40.

Raptors President and General Manager, Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri told Pawel Weszka of NBA.com about his trip to Africa this summer and how important developing the game in Africa is to him personally.

“It just continues to pile on, the unbelievable experiences that I have had on the continent while trying to help grow the game and give back,” Ujiri said. “I think we all continue to do everything we can to help grow the game in Africa.

“It’s going to be a phenomenal tournament. I think I’ve gone to every single Afrobasket since I played in 1997. It’s such a competitive tournament, it’s almost raw. It has bettered skill wise and it’s bettered technically. Overall I go watch every country and give every player an opportunity to see him live.”

Apparently Ujiri saw what he likes in Morais. Ujiri has been adding long range shooting to the Raptors this summer and Morais is another three-point specialist that continues that theme, plus he provides Ujiri a legitimate means to help grow the game in Africa. It will be interesting to see what this guard can do when he shows up at training camp.

[white men can't jump]

I would say it's between him and JuJu for the last spot.

I actually don't think the signing has much to do with expecting the guy to make the team. This is a guy who's never played Euro ball even. I highly doubt he's up to par for NBA. I think that's exactly part of the reason for the signing. Show him what it takes to make it in the NBA, and he can take that knowledge back to Africa. If African programs are going to improve, they'll need guys who know what direction the program needs to go in. Since this guy has been such a big player there for a while, I think he's likely to also focus his post-playing career on helping the development of the game there.

[Raptorsss]

Knowing how horrendous Novak's D is and that there isn't any reliable volume 3 point shooter on the bench, it's conceivable that he takes AA's spot and pushes Novak, Fields and Ross for minutes. Our 3 and D spot for the wing position still isn't settled.

Novak, Ross and Fields are on the hotseat this year, even with their guaranteed contracts.