BIRCH WELCOMES `SURREAL' OPPORTUNITY WITH RAPTORS
Winning mentality, player development sold Canadian on NBA future in Toronto
Way back in the summer of 2019, Khem Birch had his basketball eyes opened.
Suiting up for coach Nick Nurse's Canadian men's basketball team at the FIBA World Cup, Birch — who had carved out a career for himself both in the NBA and overseas before that as a rugged, defensive-minded albeit undersized centre — was for the first time asked to try to do a little bit more while on the court.
Birch hadn't been told he could be more than a screen-setting last option on offence. But Nurse began building up his confidence and the process intensified significantly when Birch opted to join the Toronto Raptors for the final 19 games this past season.
He started shooting some three-pointers, handling the ball a bit and even set up some teammates.
When the season ended, Birch talked of wanting to return.
On Friday, the Raptors officially made that happen, signing the Montreal native to a threeyear contract, reportedly worth US$20 million.
“Oh man, it feels like a dream come true. It's so surreal right now,” Birch said on a video call with the media Friday afternoon.
“It's the fact that coach Nurse coached me with Team Canada. He's a big part of that (fit). And also, there's a culture here, a winning mentality. That's the type of game I like to play, just winning, selfless player. When I talk about fit, that's the two aspects I'm talking about,” Birch said.
And after playing his entire NBA career in Orlando for teams that either missed the playoffs or didn't last long (the Raptors took them out in the first round during Toronto's championship season in 2019), Birch also said he was energized and encouraged by how much everyone associated with the franchise hated all of the losing that went on during this past lost season.
“They have high expectations for winning. Last year, it wasn't fun, losing all those games. You could tell by the guys' reactions, especially the older guys on our team.”
Birch wasn't about to shop himself around, he knew he had found a home.
“I just can't put it into words.
Just one of those free agencies where I knew where I wanted to go. I don't even know what other teams were interested in me. I just wanted to come here, regardless of the price or the years or anything. I just knew this was a great fit. I'm just happy I'm here,” Birch said.
Barring further moves, Birch is in line to start at centre while the club brings along young Precious Achiuwa, another Florida import, by way of the Miami Heat and the sign-and-trade deal involving Kyle Lowry.
Speaking of Lowry, Birch signed his contract in front of family members at Toronto's practice facility in downtown Toronto. The Raptors recently returned there after their stay in Tampa, Fla., and Birch said Lowry's presence is still felt at OVO Centre.
“Kyle, he's a great guy. He's a legend out here. I'm looking at his pictures right now with the trophies, and it's just so sad seeing him go,” Birch said.
“I appreciate him for what he said (that he would try to help get Birch paid) and I'll always appreciate him. You know, it's funny, because my mom talks to his mom like all the time, so we have something going on with that, as well.”
Birch meshed well with Lowry in their limited time together, but also with Fred Vanvleet and Malachi Flynn. What did he learn in his time with the Raptors?
“That I have more in my game than I thought and probably more than what other people thought,” Birch said.
Now he'll get a chance to show it.
Free agent forward Kawhi Leonard will re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, though the financial terms and length of the contract were still being worked out, Yahoo Sports reported on Friday.
The news came less than a week after Leonard declined his player option, worth US$36 million, for next season. He had been expected to negotiate a new deal to stay with the Clippers.
Leonard, 30, joined the Clippers two years ago following a high-stakes free agency period that saw multiple teams courting him.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019) and two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016) is a Southern California native who chose the Clippers in 2019 over the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors, who he led to the 2019 NBA title.
Kevin Durant plans to sign a four-year, US$198 million extension with the Brooklyn Nets when he becomes eligible later this month.
Durant, who turns 33 next month, is an 11-time all-star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, when he won titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. He left the Warriors following the 2018-19 season, which ended with a loss to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals.
Durant ruptured his Achilles during the series and sat out all of 2019-20.