Hoops Habit
Fansided

Toronto Raptors: Meet the 4 players fighting for a roster spot

By Nate Wolf

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Kennedy Meeks #1 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a lay up during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Kennedy Meeks #1 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a lay up during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images /

With 17 players on NBA contracts, the Toronto Raptors will have a decision to make by October. Teams can only carry 15 players and the Raptors will have several guys scrapping for a roster spot in training camp.

At this point in the summer, many NBA teams are still trying to fill out their 15-man rosters. The Chicago Bulls have just 13 players under contract. The Minnesota Timberwolves? Only 12. The Toronto Raptors, however, have 16 contracts committed to their payroll, not including the NBA’s new two-way deals or Kennedy Meeks’ Exhibit 10 contract.

That’s a fine problem to have for Raptors president Masai Ujiri. Most teams go into training camp and preseason with some kind of camp competition. But Ujiri will need to cut a player before the October roster deadline and a few players are fighting for their NBA lives.

In all probability, every player from last season’s roster is safe. After the departure of Cory Joseph and a strong Las Vegas Summer League showing, Fred VanVleet has cemented himself as Toronto’s fourth guard. Meanwhile, second-year forward Pascal Siakam has shown enough defensive potential to guarantee his spot on the team. He did, after all, start 38 games last year.

Bruno Caboclo may need to acquit himself well in training camp. Despite being drafted three years ago now, Caboclo is not yet a dominant force in the G League, let alone a competent player at the NBA level. But he’s still 21 and his $2.4 million guaranteed cap hit may be too much to swallow, so barring a complete lack of skill development, he should be safe.

The players under the most pressure are all newcomers – undrafted free agents or veterans who have bounced around professional basketball. They all have potential and translatable NBA skills, but make no mistake, Ujiri is taking a flyer on each of them.

Home/Toronto Raptors