Photo Credit: @mffdjky from Instagram
A Closer Look At The Raptors Roster Makeup | Toronto Raptors
The Raptors had six other players in camp competing for two open roster spots. That competition is now down to two, with the Raptors having a little bit of time to decide whether Alfonzo McKinnie or K.J. McDaniels – or both – will stay with the team long-term. Based on publicly available estimates, the Raptors are very close to the luxury tax line and would cross into it if they keep 15 players all season (neither player’s contract becomes fully guaranteed until Jan. 10).
McKinnie played his way from Luxembourg two years ago to a walk-on spot in the G-League and a G- League All-Star nod last year to a Summer League invite with the Raptors in July. They signed him to a partially guaranteed contract to tryout from there. McDaniels, meanwhile, signed a partially guaranteed deal to tryout late in the summer. A three-year NBA veteran, McDaniels had a strong rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers and has also played for the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets.
Both McKinnie and McDaniels are looking to show they can be high-energy defenders to lock down a spot beyond the start of the season. Each received an opportunity during preseason action, and they may have to make their cases in practices from here. Because each received a partial guarantee above a certain threshold, they can not join Raptors 905 if they’re waived – they’ll once again be true free agents.
The team can make that decision at any time, so consider the end of the roster and ongoing battle between these two for the time being.
Spacing, the final frontier for Raptors offence: Arthur | Toronto Star
Miles points out that the new emphasis on spacing the floor and passing and shooting should benefit DeRozan’s polished mid-range game, because it will create space for him, options. “It’s contagious,” says Miles. “When the ball’s moving tonight, everyone’s touching the ball, we’ve all got a feel.”
But what happens when the hard games come? When they’re drowning, and instinct kicks in? How much can they change, and stay changed?
“Every year, you start out from scratch,” says coach Dwane Casey. “And that’s where we started this season in training camp with the fundamentals, the fundamentals of passing, simple fundamentals of passing the basketball. People probably saw that and said ah, that’s a high school team.”
“At the end of the day, we’re going to figure it out,” says DeRozan. “It’s me and Kyle’s team to figure it out and maximize it. And that’s what we need. We have moments like that where we have to depend on our teammates.
“Last four years, we were one way. We made it to the Eastern Conference final, but we struggled to get there. Two Game 7s. It was rough. To get to the second round last year and get swept, it forced you to understand it was time for a chance so we could go farther. You don’t want to go into the fifth season the exact same way.
Masai Ujiri looking at big picture of Raptors’ culture change – Sportsnet.ca
Ujiri explained that his idea of a change “doesn’t mean firing people or doing radical things,” but rather an internal change that will require patience.
“There’s going to be ups and downs honestly, but that’s the reality of stuff like this,” he said. “It will be questioned sometimes, but we’ve got to stick with it and go because it has to be something that we believe in and we do believe in it.”
The Raptors’ off-season was quiet compared to several big-market teams that landed even bigger names on the open market — another topic Ujiri addressed, which you can listen to at the top of this post. Toronto re-signed stars Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, picked up C.J. Miles in free agency and dealt DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph to Brooklyn and Indiana, respectively.
While he didn’t rule out further roster changes, Ujiri isn’t rushing anything.
“I think this group can do it. You’re always trying to make your team better … and maybe there comes a point when you say, ‘OK, this doesn’t work with this group.’ But these guys have shown that they’re trying to do this,” he said.
Raptors’ C.J. Miles doesn’t let basketball define him | Toronto Star
“Everyone strives for perfection but you have to understand as much as perfection is a goal, imperfection is a big part of our game,” he said.
“There’s going to be waves, there’s waves in life, there’s waves in basketball. There’s going to 20 games you play the best basketball of your life, there’s going to be six or seven that’s going to be a little bit rocky. We play 82 games in different time zones, travel and between training and your regular life, making sure you’re doing stuff right, there’s going to be times when everything is not going to link arms.”
And that’s when he can retreat to his family — his wife, Lauren, is expecting the couple’s first child next month — and that will be his legacy, far more than shots or points or wins.
“My biggest thing I think about now is wanting to make sure the right things are left behind,” he said. “If no one talks about me as a basketball player when I’m done, that doesn’t bother me.
“People that see me play basketball, they might get a chance to get to know me, might never meet me, but as long as I was able to be a good person in my way, I’m comfortable with that.”
Player Preview 2017-18: Is it time to end the Bruno experiment? – Raptors HQ
Due to his engagements with the national team, the Raptors were unable to see him in action in Summer League. With Bruno now able to decline trips to Mississauga to play for the Raptors 905, there were more than a few whispers that he’d be in the running to take some of the minutes at the backup SF/PF minutes if he showed himself to be ready to handle them. On several occasions in training camp when asked about the battle for rotation spots, Bruno’s name was notably included and emphasized by Dwane Casey. And in return, we saw this in preseason:
Meanwhile, not only have the likes of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam outperformed him to this point, but training camp invitees like Alfonzo McKinnie and K.J. McDaniels have done a far better job showing their worth to the Raptors than Bruno.
But again, the conversation about Bruno requires nuance. On one hand, this is who he is. He’s the guy who entered the league knowing no more than the number of NBA players you can count on one hand. This is a kid who cried in his first Summer League game when he got dunked on by a certified scrub in C.J. Fair. This is a player who looked like he didn’t know where to line up during free throws. He still looks like he learns a new rule of basketball every time he steps on to the court.
Making sense of the Raptors’ financial situation heading into the 2017-18 season – The Athletic
On Monday, the Raptors exercised third-year options on Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam and their fourth-year option on Delon Wright. All three will remain with the team next year for less than $3 million each. The team will have until Oct. 31 of next year to make a decision on the fourth-year options for Poeltl and Siakam, and they’ll have until mid-October of next year to work out an extension with Wright, lest he become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
Extensions that didn’t happen: Monday was also the deadline for rookie-scale contract extensions for Lucas Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo. That deadline passed, meaning both players are headed to free agency in 2018. Whether they’ll be restricted or unrestricted free agents will depend on whether or not the Raptors extend them a qualifying offer, which is necessary to maintain restricted free agent rights (the right to match any offer sheet a player signs).
The qualifying offer is a one-year guaranteed contract that the player can sign, allowing them to become an unrestricted free agent the following summer (they can also block any trade during that season). In the case of Caboclo, he would almost surely sign his $3.5-million qualifying offer, and so the Raptors may not extend it. Their tax situation is probably too precarious to risk paying Caboclo that amount unless he takes major strides this season, and if he’s an unrestricted free agent, they’ll still hold his Bird rights and the ability to work out a separate deal.
‘It’s the same story’: Raptors getting no pre-season love | Toronto Sun
Why don’t they get any respect?
After all, this is a franchise that has reached new regular-season heights (49, 56 and 51 victories) over the past three seasons and even made the East final two springs ago. One that boasts a pair of all-stars — one, perhaps the fourth-best player in the conference, the other, one of the premier scoring machines in the league — plus a number of talented components, as well as a respected coaching staff.
Yet, every prognosticator seems to be picking Cleveland and Boston in some order as the top dogs of the East, with Washington and Milwaukee also being ranked ahead of the Raptors. Some see Toronto dropping as low as sixth.
The returning players are used to it.
“It’s the same story as it’s been the last four years,” was how DeMar DeRozan viewed the lack of outside confidence.
“Nothing changed. Same old thing. For us, we’ve got to go out there, worry about ourselves and at the end of the day, it don’t matter what we do, pretty sure they’ll say the same things.”
With P.J. Tucker gone, Norman Powell has never been more important — defensively – The Athletic
While the Raptors’ offensive shift has been the story of the pre-season, and will be worth monitoring throughout the season, how they handle bigger wings defensively will be nearly as interesting. The players with the size and theoretical skill set to do so are young and unproven: OG Anunoby, Alfonzo McKinnie, K.J. McDaniels, Pascal Siakam, even Bruno Caboclo. None of those players will begin the year as a starter, and it is hard to imagine any of them logging big minutes, either.
That role — defensive stopper — has been one the Raptors have spent a lot of assets on in the past. They spent $15-million annually on DeMarre Carroll, and then had to spend a first-round draft pick and eat Justin Hamilton’s contract to get rid of him. Last off-season, they used two second-round picks on P.J. Tucker, who they failed to retain this summer despite a good offer. They used first-round picks on Caboclo, Siakam and Anunoby, all of whom are supposed to help in that role. With players like James, Kevin Durant, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard serving as some of the most dynamic figures in the game, it’s going to be on Powell, to a large degree, to hold his own on that end.
“Contact and things like that eliminate height, so just trying to physical, get low, have better leverage than them (is key),” Powell said. “I’ve been able to show I can guard John Wall to LeBron in the post. Even one time they put me on Mo Speights, which is crazy, but it’s just about being physical, using different tools, fouling them a little bit where the refs can’t see them, little tricks like that — they can’t get every call — just using everything you have to make it difficult.”
Harmonious Raptors have seen their fair share of fights – Sportsnet.ca
Well, let’s just say they aren’t unheard of and when Sam Mitchell was coaching in Toronto there were a couple of alleged incidents where coaches and players nearly went at it (Rafer Alston) or allegedly did (Vince Carter’s training room body slam on Mitchell).
“I’ve seen a few. You keep that in house. It is what it is,” said Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. “It’s competition. It happens. You get mad at teammates, teammates get mad at you, you get mad at this. It happens. We’re all grown men in here. A lot of testosterone in here and sometimes it gets like that.
“It just happens. I don’t’ think it’s like, ‘I’m planning to do it,’ it just happens. You protect yourself and you get in the heat of the moment and it happens. Sometimes your teammates control you and you calm down and at the end of the day, you’ve still got to be together every single day. You might be mad at each for a couple of days, but other than that, you get over it.
“You don’t hate each other, you’re brothers. You really are brothers and growing up like siblings. It really is like that. We’re all grown men and come from different parents, but we’re together every single day. Things happen. Maybe one guy screens you the wrong way, some day you’re in a bad mood and things happen.”
Player Preview 2017-18: Let’s Make a Deal with Norman Powell! – Raptors HQ
A consistent role is something Powell has never had at the NBA level. It remains to be seen if he’ll have one this season. With the absence of Terrence Ross/P.J. Tucker, and also DeMarre Carroll replaced only by C.J. Miles, there’s room in the rotation and Powell is expected to play a huge part. However, even armed with his new four year contract, he’s still going to have to compete for minutes on a nightly basis, particularly given that it looks like both Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet are going to get run at the backup guard slots.
If he starts at small forward, he’ll be able to use his length to hold his own on defense and ideally will help to stretch the floor in the new-look Raptors offense, which so far this pre-season ranks second in 3-pointer attempts per game, but just 25th in percentage from deep. If he comes off the bench, he’ll have to help provide secondary offense in Lowry or DeRozan-centred units.
Either role would work just fine, and it’s conceivable this could even change based on match-ups — though that’s not the style of the regular-season Dwane Casey I know and defend with my mind and body against thousands of HTML sharpened verbal assaults. Regardless, Powell seems like he would benefit from some consistency.
Shooting like he did in his rookie season (40.9 percent) and when he started last season will be a huge key to the Raptors in-house revolution. We already know Miles can stroke it from deep, and Toronto having a threat from the small forward position for 48 minutes is a luxury they haven’t had, well, ever. In the pre-season Miles canned 4.3 of 8.7 attempts per game, which is kind of like buying lightning at Costco — you’re getting fire and volume.
5 storylines heading into Raptors’ 2017-18 season – Yahoo
oronto’s reserves will feature Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, Delon Wright, Fred Van Vleet, OG Anunoby and Alfonzo McKinnie, all of whom are under 25 years old. Miles’ addition to the bench will raise the average age of the second unit, but Toronto has committed much of its reserves to the team’s youth. The Raptors, however, don’t appear to be too concerned.
“That young group is really going to be a big part of what we do,” coach Casey recently shared with Sportsnet’s 590 The Fan. “How they come in and change the game by sustaining leads [will be big].”
Casey will likely sprinkle DeRozan, Lowry and/or Valanciunas in with the second unit from time to time, but the bulk of the Raptors’ bench rests on the shoulders of players with two seasons or fewer under their belts. How the Raptors’ youth movement will fare in 2017-18 is sure to have a heavy impact on the team’s success in the upcoming season.
DeMar DeRozan calls out Skip Bayless for insensitive tweet – Bardown
DeRozan has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind, and it’s refreshing to see that his mind is in the right place on this matter.
Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan can’t wait for ‘real’ season to begin – The Globe and Mail
Has DeRozan ever played with such a lethal long-range shooter?
“Peja Stojakovic. Briefly,” said DeRozan – Stojakovic played just two games for Toronto in 2011. “It’s the truth though. A lot of people wouldn’t know that. It’s crazy. (Miles) does it with no effort, especially when he’s wide open. And for him to come to me and say this is the most fun he’s had in a long time, thus far as (his) career, it’s definitely great.”
Miles is enjoying the mix of youngsters, who he’s guided on the second unit, and veterans such as DeRozan and Lowry.
“I’m just having fun being able to be on both sides of it,” Miles said. “And the coaching staff has been really great with helping me come along with everything they’re doing, and the players accepted me from Day 1.”
Miles listed Kyle Korver as the best shooter he’s ever played with, saying he soaked up a lot of Korver’s practice habits and pre-game preparation when the two were teammates in Utah.
Raptors expect familiarity to breed success | Toronto Star
Even as they try to make changes to their offensive philosophy and style, as they integrate former Pacer C.J. Miles, and as they try to develop a young group of backups, the Raptors at their heart are a group of familiar personalities.
DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have played together for five seasons, Jonas Valanciunas and DeRozan have been together for six, and the three players have been coached by the same man, Dwane Casey, for as long as they’ve been together in Toronto. Delon Wright and Norm Powell are entering their third seasons. Even young big men Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam have benefitted from a year with the group.
“There are a lot of things guys are doing instinctively, that guys have done over the past three or four years,” Casey said. “Understanding where guys’ sweet spots are, understanding what we’re looking for in certain situations. Continuity is always huge in any sport.”
The new guy thrown into the mix is Miles, about to enter his 13th NBA season and his first with the Raptors. But because of his varied experience — Toronto is his fourth team — he’s been able to fit in seamlessly. And because the other Raptors are so familiar with each other, working one new guy into the mix hasn’t been difficult at all.
Toronto Raptors: 14 bold predictions for the 2017-18 season -Tip of the Tower
If you were to create a small forwards nightmare in a lab it would be OG Anunoby. At 6 foot 8 and arms like a Pterodactyl, he’s the ideal 3 man in the modern NBA that prides it’s self on length. Carroll left the Raptors during the offseason via trade (good riddance) and left them self in the same spot they’ve been in since they traded Rudy Gay.
The starting small forward spot is wide open even now during preseason, with Miles and Powell jockeying for a role with the starting cast. Neither are ideal.
One is a shooter who can defend a little and one is an undersized defender that can shoot a little. OG is an ardent defender and when it comes to the playoffs his defensive ability is going to be paramount to this team.
There are no other true 3’s and coaches love defensive players. If you can defend, Casey will play you and Anunoby can absolutely defend.
Raptors need youngsters to step up if team is to have success – Sportsnet.ca
The kids feel like they’re ready for their shine, having developed an identity over the past two or three years toiling away on Summer League rosters, off-season workouts and appearances with Raptors 905.
“It’s kind of a weird set up but we’ve really developed a group dynamic, some kind of chemistry,” says second-year centre Jakob Poeltl who – along with Delon Wright and Pascal Siakam had their contract options picked up by the team on Monday. “And it’s still going to be a work in progress but our role is to come off the bench and just go out there and bring energy. It’s been a similar role as the past couple of years but no we have this super young power coming off the bench and I think it’s going to work out pretty good.”
It’s created a unique set of circumstances on a team that turns on the DeRozan-Lowry axis.
The two all-stars are the engine of the team – Ibaka and Miles were added to compliment them and Valanciunas’ future depends on his ability to adapt accordingly – but they recognize their ambitions rely on teammates who have yet to make their big NBA splash. There have been promising signs – some of the Raptors’ best moments in their pre-season schedule were provided by their young second unit, but pre-season and regular season are miles apart and the playoffs another area code after that.
“I have a lot of confidence in them,” says DeRozan. “Especially going through all the practices with them, training camp, teaching, learning, them listening. Learning with them. Seeing things they’ve gotten better at, so they’ve definitely gained more and more confidence in them so they can have more confidence in themselves.”
Raptors pick up contract options on Poeltl, Siakam and Wright – Raptors HQ
This all amounts to mere housekeeping for the Raptors as all three players were always going to be retained as low-cost, medium upside (at the very least!) rotation players for Toronto. For a team that values its player development system, it just makes good sense.
Expect some growing pains with Raptors’ new approach | Toronto Sun
The Raptors have been a team that has pretty much breezed through the regular season the past few years, only to see the contributions of Lowry and DeRozan stifled in the playoffs. Even so, the team has managed to win a total of three playoff series, but to make the next step, to beat elite playoff teams, the status quo just isn’t going to cut it.
Again, this is not going to be an overnight or even a pre-season schedule fix. There are going to be moments where it’s hard on the head coach, hard on the key players like Lowry and DeRozan and even hard on a fan base that has tasted a lot of regular season success and now could be looking at a little less than they are accustomed to having.
There are going to be some bumps as they adopt this new approach.
No one is saying Lowry and DeRozan still won’t lead this team in scoring, however, there will be a better balance of scoring throughout the lineup.
It should make things tougher on opponents who will no longer be able to load up on just two players and cut off the scoring supply — something a few teams have had success doing in the playoffs against Toronto.
Toronto Raptors: 5 goals for Jonas Valanciunas in 2017-18 – Hoops Habit
Valanciunas appeared in 80 games, pulling down 10 or more rebounds on 39 occasions, the most double-digit rebounding efforts he has ever totaled in his five-year career.
The defensive responsibilities for Valanciunas shifted a bit after the Raptors acquired power forward Serge Ibaka, as his rebounding average dipped to 8.7 per game in the 25 games the two played together.
The center out of Lithuania matched a career-high with 226 offensive rebounds, the 11th-highest total in the NBA — among the reasons Toronto posted the sixth-best offensive rating in the league.
If Valanciunas can continue his upward trajectory in rebounding, while giving his team additional scoring opportunities, the Raptors may choose to hang onto him past this year.
Good to be back, I missed you guys. If I missed anything, hit me with it: rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
