Three Toronto Raptors who could take home awards next summer
By Jordan Skuse
Terrence Davis II – All-Rookie Honours
Finally, we arrive at Terence Davis II who, like VanVleet, has quickly burst on the scene after going undrafted. Davis has featured more prominently in Toronto’s lineup ever since Lowry went on the shelf, and all the rookie has done is scored in double figures in four of seven games and made 15 of 29 threes (52-percent). The 22-year-old does not look like a first-year NBA player. Davis is wise beyond his years, as far as basketball IQ goes.
As much as I’d love this bit to be a sales pitch about his status in the Rookie of the Year discussion, brighter minds have convinced me to dial back my expectations for Toronto’s newest diamond in the rough. Rather than try to convince basketball fans that Davis deserves to be in the Rookie of the Year race, I’ll settle for the All-Rookie team, and even that, for some, might be pushing it.
In some ways, Davis’ situation works against him, in that he was signed by a team with an established core that will allow Davis to grow at a sustainable and comfortable pace, compared to, say, RJ Barrett. In Barrett’s case, he is expected to almost single-handedly transform a franchise, whereas Davis can play a role and develop in a less stressful environment. Being thrown to the wolves can work for some young players, but it can also permanently damage others.
Toronto has shown it knows how to nurture and develop young talent, just look at Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and even Chris Boucher, who has turned himself into an impactful player after spending several seasons in the shadows.
In the case of Davis, he appears to be more than ready and more than capable of being an every night player at the NBA level and could very well turn out to be the Raptors’ backup point guard of the future, once the franchise finally decides to move on from Kyle Lowry. As tough as it may be for Raptors fans to accept, that day is quickly approaching.
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No need to cry, though, because Terence Davis and Fred VanVleet, two potential award winners come the summer of 2020, are here to carry the torch once it’s time to leave Lowry’s hands.