The Raptors have waived DeAndre’ Bembry, Rodney Hood, and Paul Watson, according to a team press release. All three players had non-guaranteed contracts for the 2021/22 season.
According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports, the Raptors had always planned to waive Hood, who was acquired as part of the team’s trade of Gary Trent for Norman Powell, unless they could use his contract as filler in another trade. Lewenberg also suggests the decisions to waive Watson and Bembry indicate the team is either looking to create added cap flexibility or will simply go elsewhere with its end-of-bench roster spots.
Hood has been a productive player since being drafted 23rd in the 2014 draft by the Jazz, but staying healthy has been a challenge for the 6’7 lefty. Hood fractured his hand after coming over to Toronto, putting an early end on the least productive season of his career.
As we relayed earlier today, Hood already has a deal lined up with the Bucks, who are looking to add more shooting for next year’s playoff run.
In a separate tweet, Lewenberg reports that Toronto’s plan is to waive backup center Aron Baynes before his guarantee deadline tomorrow unless his money is needed in trades, and will retain Chris Boucher through his Sunday guarantee date.
Baynes came over as a free agent in the hopes that he would help stabilize the center position upon the departure of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, but his lone year with the Raptors was a disappointment, with the 34-year-old Australian unable to carve out a role for himself. Boucher, meanwhile, has been a massive development success for the Raptors, turning into a solid rim-protector and three-point shooter in his fourth season.
Toronto Mavs Miami deal
Sixers should take a gamble on Bembry
I really had high hopes for Baynes. My bet is he ends up in Chicago as a backup.
Miami makes sense
Yeh Bulls need bigs
I remember reading about Hood and MIL. Couldn’t help wondering if MIL jumped the gun again.
Toronto probably gave him permission to talk to other teams because he agreed to extend his salary guarantee date so they could try to include him in a trade.
It’s not all good in the Hood.
Not from where he stood. But if he could, he would make it good in the neighborhood.
A disappointment?!? Baynes was an unmitigated disaster. A detriment. Playing 4 on 5 would have given them a better chance.
Dude straight up sucked. I hadn’t watched him play much before he came to the Raptors but I thought he was at the very least a passable NBA player. I was wrong.
Washed even by last season. Did well gett the 3pt shot down for an endcap.