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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) /
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Toronto Raptors
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K.J. McDaniels, Guard

In 2014-15, K.J. McDaniels appeared in 52 games for the woeful Sixers team. He played well and showed promise, but never got a chance to stick around.

The Sixers traded him to the Rockets, who ultimately made the Western Conference Finals. After playing 25.2 minutes per game in Philadelphia, McDaneis registered just 33 minutes total for Houston.

He spent last season on the fringes of the Rockets roster before finding a home in Brooklyn, where he enjoyed a mini-resurgence. Nevertheless, the Nets declined to pick up McDaniels’ $3.5 million option for 2017-18 and the 6’6” swingman now finds himself in a camp battle.

McDaniels is Wiltjer’s opposite. He’s made just 70 threes in his 148-game NBA career, and his career efficiency from deep is 29 percent. He is effectively a non-shooter, which is an issue for a perimeter player without much shot-creation ability.

But McDaniels has excellent athleticism and elite defensive instincts. His career average of 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes is nigh unparalleled for a guard. And his rookie year defensive box plus-minus of +1.1 ranked 11th among shooting guards who played more than 500 minutes.

Although defensive specialists are useful, players with minimal offensive value have a hard time sticking in the league unless they are legitimately elite defenders – think Tony Allen or Andre Roberson. McDaniels’ best bet is reaching that esteemed level on defense.

But at 24, it’s unclear whether he can get there. Those guys don’t just block shots or create turnovers; they guard superstars of all sizes, nail every rotation and play with unwavering intensity.

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McDaniels doesn’t need to be that good, but he needs to show progress. At the very least, he should beat out McKinnie and Meeks with his experience and potential. That being said, this may be McDaniels’ last chance.

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