As first reported by our own Kelsea O’Brien, the Toronto Raptors have converted Paul Watson Jr. to a main roster contract. He was previously on a two-way contract, which capped the number of games he could play with the roster. But due to his stable play through three pre-season games, averaging 3.7 points while shooting 37.5 percent from deep, it’s likely the Raptors decided they wanted to use Watson more often than a two-way contract could allow. He looks to be a real piece in the team’s future plans. Correspondingly, the Raptors team media relations staff announced this morning that the team has cut Oshae Brissett, Alize Johnson, and Henry Ellenson.
This finalizes the roster. It’s quite likely now that Yuta Watanabe and Jalen Harris will be moved to two-way spots. Johnsona nd Ellenson are eligible to sign with the Raptors 905, but Brissett is not. He is now a free agent. He emerged as a solid three-and-D wing last year, and the hope has to be that he lands on another NBA roster. The hometown Mississauga kid will be missed.
Thus the Raptors depth chart looks like this, give or take a few positional assignments.
PG: Lowry, Flynn, Johnson
SG: VanVleet, Thomas, Davis, McCaw
SF: Anunoby, Powell, Harris (two-way)
PF: Siakam, Bembry, Watson, Watanabe (two-way)
C: Baynes, Boucher, Len
Of course, Stanley Johnson will play anywhere from point guard to power forward. Furthermore, the team is invested in developing Pat McCaw and Harris as point guards, though perhaps with the drafting of Malachi Flynn, Terence Davis will no longer be looked at as a point guard. The point is that positions are flexible.
But the roster is set as Toronto prepares for opening night. First game will be December 23 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
