Raptors stronger as Ujiri snares power forward

The Raptors’ GM, Masai Ujiri, has once again moved quickly to plug a hole in the roster. Jared Sullinger is on board.

Despite basketball’s collection of catchy nicknames being in a down cycle (to put it mildly), I’m hoping to create some groundswell for a sobriquet for the Toronto Raptors’ General Manager, Masai Ujiri. I propose his nickname to be “Swoop”. For the second off-season in a row, he has swooped in to snare a valuable player whose former team couldn’t afford him.

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The sudden arrival of power forward Jared Sullinger came about because the Boston Celtics found themselves out of money, or more correctly, cap space, as a result of their successful wooing of Al Horford. Big Al will cost Boston the approximate GDP of a developing nation over the next four years. General Manager Danny Ainge had no choice but to rescind his qualifying offer to Sullinger.

Who appears on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Sullinger was kicked to the curb? Why look everybody – it’s “Swoop” Ujiri, sweet contract in hand, and today we have a starter-grade power forward.

Oct 10, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) moves past center Jared Sullinger (7) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Raptors won 116-109. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Last year, the target was Cory Joseph, who was suddenly tossed out of the nest in San Antonio because LaMarcus Aldridge really, really wants a ring.

As we indicated to you months ago, Rapture Nation, DeMar DeRozan will be the last signee of the summer. That way, we can go over the salary cap using our Bird rights on the DeRozan contract. In the meantime, “Swoop” has performed his magic.

Sullinger offers considerable skills to the Raptors. He has the heft to box out mobile rebounders like Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson and grab the ball himself. I’ll be watching for Sullinger to pin opponents’ bigs while DeRozan or Kyle Lowry are attacking the hoop.

So why, you might ask, is a veteran rebounder with starter’s credentials available for about $5 million on a one-year deal? Less than a week after I wrote about bulky collegians, the Raptors have their first player troubled by weight issues since Oliver Miller. Whether Sullinger has a hormonal problem, or simply can’t stay away from the burgers and pop, is not for me to say. Whatever is causing the weight fluctuations which have plagued his career needs to be identified and treated before he washes out entirely.

Let’s hope Jared takes his audition seriously. He has a chance to establish himself with a top contender.

I don’t know what else there is to do for Swoop to do. The kiddie corps is presenting well at Las Vegas in the Summer League, where they are 2-0. Norman Powell just dropped 29 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves junior varsity. Delon Wright enjoyed a fine fourth quarter to keep the T’Wolves at bay.

The acquisition of Sullinger now sets up a fiercely competitive training camp. Coach Dwane Casey no longer is compelled to pencil in Patrick Patterson at power forward. 2-Pat must battle Sullinger and newcomer Pascal Siakam for the honour of being announced as the Game One starter.

Powell is proving his eye-opening rookie season was not a fluke, so he will be in the mix. Jakob Poeltl has to get some attention.

Because Masai has never boxed himself in salary cap-wise, he’s taken advantage of sudden opportunities to plug holes in the roster. The Raptors’ camp invitees will be the strongest and most balanced group this writer can ever recall.

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