The Toronto Raptors have recalled Delon Wright from Raptors 905 of the D-League, the team announced Friday.
Wright is being recalled for Friday’s practice session but will not accompany the team to Washington for Saturday’s game. Instead, Wright is likely to be re-assigned to the 905 for the weekend, where he’ll once again receive ample playing time Sunday.
Update: Wright went from Raptors practice directly to Raptors 905 practice Friday, getting in a double session.
This week for Wright is essentially a master’s class in how an NBA team is supposed to leverage an exclusive affiliate with close geographic proximity, borrowing from teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Wright’s played 10 NBA minutes so far this season, and with the Raptors’ schedule light this week and the backcourt healthy, he was assigned to get additional run. He played 37 minutes for the 905 on Wednesday, serving that end, and he remained in the city, available to add an extra body to the parent club’s practice Friday. That also allows him to stay abreast of all things strategic with the main roster, and the logistics of the up-and-down couldn’t be simpler. Then, when the Raptors depart for the first leg of a road-home back-to-back, Wright will rejoin the 905 for more practice and is at the ready for Sunday’s home game if the Raptors were to suffer an injury Saturday. Failing that, he’ll play major minutes again Sunday as the 905 host the Delaware 87ers.
Expect Wright to be recalled again some time early next week. The 905 are off until next Saturday after Sunday’s game, while the Raptors have two practice days and then a Wednesday-Thursday back-to-back.
Head coach Jesse Murmuys told Raptors Republic on Tuesday that Wright wasn’t being assigned to work on any specific part of his game, but primarily to get minutes. He certainly did that, showing off his knack for carving into the teeth of a defense and getting to the free-throw line. In Wright’s one game with the 905, he was superb, scoring 24 points on 9-of-9 shooting. He didn’t distribute as much as expected but his teammates were ice cold from outside, muting his assist numbers, and he provided the stellar defense at the point of attack that is expected from him.
You can read more about Wright’s development in the original post about his assignment to the 905 and read a full break down of his play from college and summer league here. Check back after Sunday’s D-League game for another update on how he looked.
