Bruno Caboclo: It’s Time for the Toronto Raptors Rookie to Play
Raptors rookie Bruno Caboclo has had a tumultuous season so far. Much to the surprise of many NBA pundits, he started the year on the team’s 15-man roster. Then, he was sent down to play for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, supposedly to gain experience. Three games later, he was shipped back to Canada, and has yet to play for the Raptors since returning on Jan 2. It’s high time Caboclo finds his way into the Raptors’ lineup.
When Caboclo was selected 20th by the Raptors during the 2014 NBA Draft, fans and commentators alike erupted in confusing. ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla famously said Caboclo was “two years away from being two years away”. This was a slightly condescending way of saying 18-year-old Caboclo has a lot of learning to do before he will be ready to play quality NBA basketball. In the NBA, the competition is bigger, stronger and more talented than anywhere else.
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After he was picked, many believed Caboclo would be stashed overseas or in the D-League on a long-term stint where he could learn to play big boy basketball. The common thought was that he would need to get physically stronger before he could set foot on the court in the Air Canada Centre. Instead, Masai Ujiri and Dwane Casey did what they do best: they proved everyone wrong.
Caboclo was kept on the team, developing his skills during practices. Then, on Nov. 21, Caboclo got to make his NBA debut against the Milwaukee Bucks. He made the game count, scoring eight points and hitting two of his three 3-point attempts. Plus, he had this beauty of a first basket:
He played two more games for the Raptors before Christmas, both of which were unimpressive but significant for the youngster who badly needed to gain experience and confidence. On Christmas day, he was sent down to the D-League, which should have been the perfect place for Caboclo to develop his defensive I.Q, his 3-point shooting, and his ability to finish at the rim.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Caboclo received limited minutes, was benched unforgivingly after making mistakes, and ultimately didn’t get the touches he needed to learn. So, in what undoubtedly looked like an awkward decision for the Raptors, the team recalled Caboclo after just three games in Indiana. Here’s the part of the story where I should be able to write: “Caboclo has received limited minutes in steep losses and blowout wins for the Raptors since returning.”
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I wish. Instead, he has sat. What’s the point of bothering to bring him back if Casey wasn’t planning on using him? Caboclo won’t learn quick enough to be useful anytime soon for the Raptors if he never gets to play. He needs to enter games when the result is not in question. He needs to make mistakes, take stupid fouls and attempt rushed shots. That’s a part of growing.
Assuming the Raptors have no intention of moving Caboclo anytime soon, they need to use him. He has shown his potential. Obviously, he isn’t ready for the pressure of a close game, but he is ready to at least run the floor. The more he sits, the more his confidence will drop. I’m not saying he should be playing nightly, but he should be considered as much as possible.