Raptors launch title defense with little respect, few expectations
By Phil Watson
2019-20 roster
Key Additions: Stanley Johnson (free agency), Terence Davis (undrafted free agent), Dewan Hernandez (draft, 2nd round), Matt Thomas (undrafted free agent/Europe), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (free agency), Devin Robinson (free agency), Cameron Payne (free agency)
Key Subtractions: Kawhi Leonard (free agency), Danny Green (free agency), Jeremy Lin (free agency), Jodie Meeks (free agency), Jordan Loyd (waivers)
As far as players brought in from outside the organization, the biggest swing the Toronto Raptors took in free agency was signing former Detroit Pistons first-round pick Stanley Johnson for two years and $7.43 million.
No, that wasn’t a contract that was going to knock the Anthony Davis trade off the front page of the sports section.
But the Raptors did keep the raw but talented Patrick McCaw, re-signing him for two years and $8 million. Otherwise, though, Toronto did it’s shopping in the bargain bin.
Former Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson signed for the veteran’s minimum. Undrafted free agent Terence Davis has turned some heads in the preseason.
The Raptors also took a shot on former Iowa State sharpshooter Matt Thomas, signing the undrafted free agent to a three-year deal after two solid years in Spain, where he played last season for Valencia Basket.
Thomas averaged 12.0 points per game and shooting 48.0 percent on 4.6 attempts per game from 3-point range in 53 games across the domestic league, Eurocup and Spanish Cup. That came after he canned 45.9 percent on 5.2 3-point tries a game for Obradoiro in 2017-18.
He was a career 40.1 3-point shooter at Iowa State, hitting 44.5 percent as a senior.
The Raptors have fared well with undrafted talent in the past (hello, Fred VanVleet!), and are hopeful that some combination of holdovers and new players can fill out the rotation behind what appears to be a fairly solid starting five.