The Toronto Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo and Norman Powell to Raptors 905 of the D-League, the team announced Monday. The Raptors recalled all of their players from the D-League to be available off the bench Sunday, and it was expected at least one would be re-assigned today.
Both players are expected to remain with the 905 through Tuesday, when the 905 and Raptors will play simultaneously. The two games taking place at the same time is probably why neither Delon Wright or Anthony Bennett was assigned, as the Raptors would only have 10 healthy bodies for their game were a third player sent down.
For Caboclo, this is old hat. He’s spent the bulk of his season with the 905, occasionally getting recalled to check in for practices with the parent club or to sit on the bench and observe. The Raptors have done well to maximize his practice time this way, and he’s gotten to play a great deal at the D-League level. His season is far more about playing time and comparing the start of the season to the end of the season, but he’s been making small, noticeable strides nonetheless.
In 14 games, Caboclo is averaging 31.9 minutes, blowing past his previous single-season workload at any level. He’s putting up 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in those minutes while shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent on threes. He’s dealt with occasional foul trouble, particularly as a help defender learning a new role as a part-time power forward, but his length has produced one steal and 1.9 blocks per-game, too. His performance has been mostly encouraging, so long as you can take the long-view with the 20-year-old.
Powell, meanwhile, was assigned on short notice after the Raptors’ game in Miami on Friday. He showed some rust Saturday and then exploded for a franchise-record 30 points on Sunday, looking every bit the enticing prospect he looked like at summer league. He scored 53 points with seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals over his two appearances, shooting 21-of-40.
The two-guard has played sparingly at the NBA level despite bringing good energy as a deep reserve. With so few minutes available, getting him some additional, full-game run with the 905 is a smart move. Similar to the way the team handled Wright over the last few weeks, Powell could be in line for a few up-and-downs to maximize his court time. (I suggested earlier in the year the Raptors would keep Caboclo down permanently while Wright, Powell, Bennett, and Lucas Nogueira take turns joining him one at a time, which appears to be the plan.)
Wright may not see much floor time with the Raptors but the depth is necessary with DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas still out. It’s telling, though, that Wright didn’t see action in Sunday’s game, with Kyle Lowry getting ejected early in the third quarter and head coach Dwane Casey opting to stick with Cory Joseph – or no point guard at all – in the game’s final 19 minutes. In eight D-League games, Wright averaged 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 53.8 percent overall and an encouraging 10-of-23 from outside.
Bennett, by the way, turned in a middling performance in his one-game assignment Sunday. He requested the trip for additional run and could see a second assignment after the holidays, should the 905 be at home and the Raptors not in action.
