Much of the focus will be on individual on-court development as the Raptors get ready for the NBA’s Summer League, beginning this week, but save some time for some off-court interest as well.
The sudden departure of president Masai Ujiri more than a week ago still resonates through the organization and with the fan base. It will certainly be a topic of discussion when every major decision-maker from the league’s 30 franchises arrive in Las Vegas.
The Raptors will present a business-as-usual face to the league, as they’ve done since they dismissed Ujiri the day after last month’s draft, with general manager Bobby Webster assuming the role of chief decision maker.
He doesn’t have much to do — and given he has been with the Raptors for more than a decade and worked at the league office before that, it’s not like he’s some stranger plunged into a new job — but any decision he makes will mark his first personal stamp on the franchise.
Even before the Raptors play their first game (10 p.m. ET Friday against Chicago) there will be a minor roster move to make because the guarantee on Jamison Battle’s contract arrives Thursday.
It could be pushed back — teams and agents can negotiate an extension to any point, like the start of training camp or the start of the regular season — but Battle may want to know what his future is sooner rather than later.
The promising 24-year-old forward shot 40.5 per cent from three-point range with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ in 59 games last season and seems to be in a legitimate fight for a rotation berth.
His contract, fully guaranteed, will pay him about $1.9 million (U.S.) next season; the Raptors will save 50 per cent of it if they release him before Thursday.
Webster also has to deal with second-round draft pick Alijah Martin and where he fits into the roster. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ could find a full NBA roster spot for him and lock him up with partial guarantees in the next season or two, or they could make moves to add him on a two-way deal. It’s not a major decision and probably won’t affect how the team ultimately plays but it is a housekeeping task that needs to be taken care of.
Other than those two things, and fielding what are sure to be numerous questions about what happened with Ujiri, the focus on a couple of weeks in Vegas will be on how the players look on the court.
With seven players on the Summer League team that played at least a bit with the NBA team last season and this summer’s two draft picks, there are several questions to be answered when practice in Vegas begins Wednesday.
Coach Darko Rajakovic and members of his staff have been fanning out across the continent since the season ended in April to see how the players have been handling their off-season tasks. Each player was given something specific to work on and the practices this week will allow the staff to check their progress.
The games are secondary in importance. Summer League coach James Wade, the rest of the staff, Rajakovic and Webster will be watching to see how players perform, but only in the context of what they are likely to be asked to do when the real team begins playing in the fall. Making the right play rather than padding statistics counts the most; how the players take instruction and show improvement in private practices matters more than what they do in the games.
How much the returning players — Battle, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Ulrich Chomche, Colin Castleton and A.J. Lawson — play is unclear. None are going to play all of the five scheduled games and whichever playoff rounds ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ qualifies for. It’s also unlikely Martin, or first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles will play each game.
But all will get their work in during the half-dozen practices when the heavy lifting is done.
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