Photo credit: MattAzevedo.com
The depth of the class of the D-league is about to be tested.
Raptors 905 lost Will Sheehey to a scary looking arm injury in the third quarter of Saturday night’s game in Erie. The team announced that Sheehey will not return. Details are scarce, but it didn’t look particularly good. He’s headed to the hospital for further examination.
For the remainder of the night, this leaves the 905 a little thin to close out, as Axel Toupane and C.J. Leslie are resting and Bruno Caboclo is out with a shoulder injury. If Sheehey is day-to-day, this will be fine, as the 905 have literally nothing to play for over the final three games, having locked up the best record in the league and home court through the postseason.
But if Sheehey’s injury is serious, this would be a big loss for the 905. The Indiana product has been one of the team’s most consistent two-way contributors, working as a big piece of their switchy defense and a secondary playmaker on offense. In 37 games entering play Saturday, Sheehey was averaging 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, two assists, and 1.3 steals while hitting 35.6 percent of his threes. He’s also an important part of their transition game both ways.
Should Sheehey miss playoff time, head coach Jerry Stackhouse would probably shorten his rotation rather than elevate a depth player. With Brady Heslip primarily playing point guard, the wing rotation would be E.J. Singler, Toupane, Antwaine Wiggins, and Caboclo. That’s fine, but the additional versatility of Caboclo and Wiggins as combo-forwards is lessened in that case, and again, Sheehey has been really, really solid for the 905.
Here’s hoping he’s okay for their playoff run, which begins as early as April 4.
