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2014 NBA Draft : Players We’re Waiting For

By Gary Gorski

Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 14, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN;Toronto Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo (20) gest past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) in a pre-season matchup at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN;Toronto Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo (20) gest past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) in a pre-season matchup at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Bruno Caboclo

Fran Fraschilla famously remarked on draft night that Bruno Caboclo was “two years away from being two years away” when the Raptors stunned everyone by taking him with the 20th pick in the draft.

Unlike Embiid and Saric, Caboclo has played with the team since he was drafted; however, he doesn’t have much more NBA experience than they do. In two seasons, Caboclo has played a grand total of 66 minutes for the Raptors in 14 appearances.

In fact his rookie season was in some ways a lost one. Toronto did not have its own D-league affiliate and Caboclo spent much of the year with Fort Wayne, who had no particular reason to develop a raw 19-year-old — even if he was the “Brazilian Kevin Durant“.

Raptors GM Masai Ujiri sought to rectify that this year by fast-tracking a NBDL team for the Raptors where Caboclo could get all the coaching and game experience he could handle.

Caboclo had a very productive season in the NBDL where he averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks.

After seeing what the big league club did with Bismack Biyombo, Raptors fans have to be excited about what the future holds for Caboclo who with a great summer may have shortened Fraschilla’s timeline considerably.

Next: The Other Bogdanovic

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