Raptors’ training camp surprise
Former Wichita State point guard lands the 15th and final spot on Toronto’s roster
WASHINGTON — The Toronto Raptors liked each of its training camp invites. But in the end, Fred VanVleet, the heavy favourite leading in, walked away Saturday with the 15th and final roster spot.
The 6-foot point guard starred in the NCAA with the Wichita State Shockers, but went undrafted and was quickly snapped up by the Raptors’ brain trust and agreed to a summer league/training camp deal.
When second-year point guard Delon Wright got hurt in the summer league, with a return date set for late December at the earliest, VanVleet’s odds of making the team improved greatly.
But he still had to go out and earn the spot, which he did, first showing off an improved outside shot in summer league (54.5 per cent on three-pointers in five games) with a minuscule turnover rate and then again during the pre-season. VanVleet defended well — his calling card — and also averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists, shooting 50 per cent from the field, including 39 per cent from three in seven games, two of them starts.
Back in July at summer league, VanVleet said he thought highly of the Raptors organization and that’s why he turned down offers from several other teams, even with all-NBA point guard Kyle Lowry, stellar backup Cory Joseph and Wright, the 20th pick of the 2015 draft, ahead of him on the depth chart.
“They show interest in developing young talent and that’s key,” said the 22-year-old VanVleet, who made an instant impact as a freshman at Wichita State, helping the team to the Final Four.
“I’m kind of savvy in my experience, but I haven’t played (in the NBA), but I’m kind of more mature, so that plays a role in it, too. I’m not 18, most organizations, if you’re not 18, they don’t really develop you.
“They might go get a vet, but they’ve shown that they develop talent with guys like Norm (Powell) and Bruno (Caboclo) and Delon. So I’m just trying to develop the blueprint and work on things.”
The Raptors would have liked to keep more than just VanVleet, but with 14 guaranteed contracts, swingman Drew Crawford, guard Brady Heslip, forwards E.J. Singler and Jarrod Uthoff and centre Yanick Moreira were waived.
Heslip, a Burlington, Ont.-born sharpshooter who like VanVleet had signed a partly guaranteed deal, will play for Raptors 905 in the NBA Development League along with Singler and Uthoff. Moreira is expected to land there as well. Crawford’s future is less certain. He had a strong pre-season and could head back overseas on a lucrative deal.
INFIRMARY FILLING UP
The Raptors didn’t practice Saturday, so there was no update on centre Lucas Nogueira, who sprained his ankle Friday against Washington.
“He turned it pretty bad, so I don’t know,” what his status is, head coach Dwane Casey said after the game.
“That’s part of playing, just fighting through things.
“The next person has got to be ready to play.”
That includes rookie power forward Pascal Siakam, who appears slated to fill in as starter in the absence of Jared Sullinger, who is getting a second opinion on his foot injury shortly.