Toronto Raptors: What Tyler Hansbrough Brings to the Team

Tyler Hansbrough has signed a two-year deal to join the Toronto Raptors. Photo: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule

On the first day NBA teams can officially sign free agents, the Toronto Raptors finalized a two-year deal with forward Tyler Hansbrough. The acquisition gives Toronto some much needed energy and hustle on a team that drastically needs some sort of boost.

His moniker isn’t “Psycho T” for nothing. In signing the former North Carolina standout, the Raptors bring in one of the hardest working players in the league and someone who isn’t afraid to get physical in the paint.

Despite his smaller stature at just 6’9”, Hansbrough is a willing offensive rebounder and a developing mid-range scorer. He has yet to have as good a season as he did in his second year when he averaged 11 points and 5.2 rebounds per game; however, he has seen his minutes per game slowly decrease in the past two years. This comes in large part to the Indiana Pacers’ reliance on their dynamic frontcourt of Roy Hibbert and David West.

Forced to sit behind two of the best big men in the East, Hansbrough provided Indiana with energy and hustle off the bench. As he enters his fifth year in the Association, he’ll have a great opportunity in front of him as he heads above the border. Toronto traded starting big man Andrea Bargnani this offseason and are looking for someone to help fill those vacated minutes.

Hansbrough seems like a likely candidate.

The Raptors, who finished tied for last in the Atlantic Division at 34-48, will have to decide between Amir Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Steve Novak or Hansbrough to round out the 4 and 5 positions. In his seventh year in the league, Johnson easily had his best season, averaging 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game – both career highs. Like Hansbrough, he is someone who gives it his all every game and seems to never quit on a play. Valanciunas is a true center, averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while Novak, acquired this offseason after a breakout season in New York, provides Toronto with a stretch-4 player who is deadly from behind-the-arc.

There are a few different routes the Raptors can go in their starting five, but they may go with a rotation to keep everyone fresh, especially since Johnson and Hansbrough serve similar roles with their high-motor.

Nonetheless, it’s clear Hansbrough should receive more opportunities to produce in Canada compared to what he saw in Indiana his first four years.