Kyle Collinsworth signs small-money Raptors contract

The Raptors have signed Kyle Collinsworth to a contract, and he will be at training camp. Is this relatively old combo guard likely to make the team?

We’re not newsbreakers here at the Rapture. Breathless prose about someone’s signing isn’t usually terribly interesting. However, I’m intrigued by the news of the Toronto Raptors bringing in former Dallas Maverick Kyle Collinsworth.

The Brigham Young University product is really old for a prospect. Collinsworth turns 27 years of age just before the Raptors’ lone pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena in early October. His BYU (Rafael Araujo’s school – shudder!) heroics were several years ago, and he was much older than his opponents, having undertaken a 2-year mission in Russia between his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Collinsworth was known as Mr. Triple-Double, and he holds the NCAA record with 12. It’s therefore not surprising that his secondary stats in his brief pro debut last season are intriguing, and indeed positive for the most part. However, a 6’6″ swingman can’t afford to go 4 for 17 from deep in a tryout, unless he’s a 19-year-old lottery pick. Collinsworth is neither, and the Mavericks pulled the plug.

Whether Collinsworth is a late bloomer who can earn minutes on the big team, or just another 905 roster-filler, remains to be seen. He’s got a lot of competition for the back end of our bench. Malachi Richardson, Lorenzo Brown, and Jordan Loyd all want the spot Collinsworth is striving for.

Even the back of the roster has experience

Here’s a way to make sense of the Collinsworth signing – he’s part of the win-now philosophy. The Raptors’ benchwarmers and G Leaguers have more experience than most teams’ equivalents. When/if our top players succumb to injury, those who step in will be expected to contribute. There’s no Trust the Process-style on the job training happening in Toronto.

Masai Ujiri and his executive team are using all the tools available to them in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. By my count, they now have three Exhibit 10 deals (Chris Boucher, Kay Felder, Collinsworth) and can add three more, in theory. However, with 18 roster spots now spoken for, there are only 2 left for any kind of deal (i.e., two-way, partially, or fully, guaranteed).

It’s possible the Raptors will try to max out their deals, and take 20 players to training camp. I’d be surprised, as that hasn’t been their modus operandi in the past. However, new coach Nick Nurse may be pushing for the maximum number of candidates, rather than the small groups Dwane Casey seemed more comfortable with. Camp opens in Vancouver on the 25th of this month, with the first pre-season game on the 29th.

Keeping a spot or two open for players waived by other teams can often pay off. Whether Collinsworth turns out to be a “get” for Toronto will be interesting to watch as pre-season progresses.