The Raptors‘ decision to waive Sam Dekker came down to Isaac Bonga having more of the qualities that the organization values, writes Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca. Both players were signed to partially guaranteed deals and had agreed to delay their guarantee dates until today, but keeping both would have inhibited Toronto’s ability to get below the luxury tax threshold.
Dekker improved his outside shot while playing in Turkey last season, but Bonga is 6’8″ with a 7-foot wingspan and can play several positions. At 21, he’s five-and-a-half years younger than Dekker and may be a better investment for the future. Even though Dekker only got into one game for the Raptors, coach Nick Nurse said it wasn’t an easy choice on which player to keep.
“It was pretty close all the way,” Nurse said. “Isaac probably just kind of filled the role that we want. He’s got size, he’s kind of a versatile defender, he’s on the offensive glass. He’s kind of a real role-playing guy that we think we can throw in there at any time. He’s good enough to get into games right now, to be honest with you, but we can’t play everybody. … We were real close on it. Sam was awesome. He spent a lot of time with us from the moment, all the way back from when we first looked at him in the sort-of open run situation, and he spent a lot of time working the job. But it’s the tough side of it, man. Tough side. Sorry to see him go.”
There’s more from Toronto:
- Bonga has only played seven total minutes this season, but the Raptors believe he can handle a rotation spot, Murphy adds. He got consistent playing time during his two years with the Wizards, and Toronto identified him as a low-cost target in free agency. Murphy believes the best move for Bonga is to get consistent playing time in the G League, but he and the players union would have to sign off on the move because he’s in his fourth NBA season.
- Pascal Siakam is ready for his season debut Sunday after recovering from shoulder surgery and he likes what he has seen from the Raptors in their 6-4 start, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. “I wanted to be out there throughout the whole process,” he said, “but I’m excited to be back out there and just be with your teammates and do whatever I can to help.”
- Friday’s game with the Cavaliers featured a matchup between two early favorites for Rookie of the Year, and both Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley looked like worthy candidates, according to Steven Loung of Sportsnet.ca. While scoring has a major effect on the voting, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff notes that Barnes and Mobley are special because of what they provide on defense. “Both of those guys are uniquely framed,” he said, “they’re mobile and agile and it gives them an opportunity to be impactful defensively.”
Mobley and Barnes are definitely the best of the draft so far.
I wouldn’t use the word definitely, sure they’re among the best of the draft so far (over the first 10 games). But a lot can happen over the next 70 games.
Key word was so far
No, definitely
Bonga is absolute Garbage, watching him play for Washington the last 2 years made me puke. He would come in cold and shoot 3 pt shots that he never hit. He doesn’t belong in the NBA.
Rofl
And now you’ll see the difference between a well run, professional, gold standard basketball organization, vs a mediocre/poorly run one. Bonga is exactly what the Raptors look for. Wingspan upon wingspan, and switchability. Excited to see what kind of player we can turn this kid into after seeing so many success stories with the likes of Norman Powell, Fred, Pascal, OG, etc
Gotta admit I thought it would be at least a year. Before Mobley and Barnes started to show. Both look real good. Have to give it to their basketball IQ. Both are 2way players and understand at an early age, team concept. Big futures for both. This whole draft class is looking good. ROY is still a long ways. Cade has just started playing. This could be a real ROY race this yr. With multiple candidates.
Interesting that Mobley & Barnes are 1-2 in their draft class so far, since early on I thought it would be Barnes would be on the Cavs, even though Barnes was not in the initial top 5 favorites.
But the Cavs only had the #5 odds in the draft before the pingpong balls made them #3. I thought Mobley would be gone, since the Rockets only had one big, and pleasant memories of Olajuwon and Yao Ming; but they took J.Green, after all talented and a good pick for their wild style.
Who knows the what-ifs. But with Kuminga so similar to Okono, and Suggs so similar to Rubio, and both recently acquired so should be getting a run, what would be left to draft is Barnes and his odd shooting stroke and great energy.
It was all win-win for the Cavs.