The Toronto Raptors were able to sit back and watch Raptors 905 construct the G League’s most explosive offense, even if it fell short of a championship. One of the main reasons they were able to be so lethal on that end is the performance of Henry Ellenson.
A former 5-star recruit from Marquette, Ellenson was picked 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, he has spent the last few seasons bouncing around the NBA’s minor leagues, as he managed just 81 games in the pros while scoring 4.0 points per game.
In the Gubble this season, Ellenson averaged 21.2 points and 8.3 rebounds for Patrick Mutumbo, all the while making 43% of his 3-point attempts despite averaging over eight shots from deep per game.
The Raptors need some reinforcements down low, and they chose to add Ellenson to the roster over Alize Johnson. Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Raptors signed Ellenson to a 10-day contract. While Ellenson was waived before the season after signing a two-year deal this offseason, his cap hit will be minimal.
Toronto is signing forward Henry Ellenson to a 10-day contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 10, 2021
What will Henry Ellenson bring to the Raptors?
Ellenson’s issues early in his career came from a lack of interior defense and an inability to finish around the rim. While no one will mistake him for Dikembe Mutumbo anytime soon, he’s at least competent in that area, and his shooting splits show that he has some improved touch around the basket.
Ellenson’s game is based around his ability to score, and the G League proved he is capable of doing it in bunches. Ellenson might just get some minutes at center, where be could be a better option on offense than Aron Baynes.
One of Baynes’ biggest issues is how he kills spacing on the floor due to his below-average 3-point shot. Ellenson’s sweet shooting stroke made him a hyped recruit and first-round pick, and it could help him carve out a role in Toronto. With the lack of quality off of the bench of late in Toronto/Tampa, Ellenson could cement himself as one of Nurse’s trusted reserves.
Ellenson is a bit of a gamble, as he has a long history of disappointing in the professional ranks, but Nick Nurse and the Raptors are taking a calculated risk, assuming that his G League production and consistently solid jumper from deep are signs of better things to come.