Raptors: 4 non-Scottie Barnes players to watch in Summer League

The Toronto Raptors are about to kick off their NBA Summer League campaign, and that means that the fanbase will get their very first glimpse at No. 4 pick Scottie Barnes and how he performs in a Raptors uniform. Barnes will inarguably be the big show in town, but there are a bunch of interesting storylines worth observing.

Toronto has recruited players that are either looking to prove themselves enough to earn a Raptors 905 contract or trying to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pact as they fight for increased time in the rotation. With Precious Achiuwa also potentially coming to town via the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade, the roster may keep growing.

The Raptors will not be short on choices if they are looking for a player that can make a name for themself in the next few weeks. While all of the attention will deservedly be on Barnes, that doesn’t mean the rest of the roster should be condemned to anonymity.

These 4 players could make a name for themselves in the summer, as they could win the hearts of Patrick Mutombo, Nick Nurse, and the rest of the organization by crushing it in August.

4 Toronto Raptors players to watch at NBA Summer League.

4. C Anas Mahmoud

Mahmoud was able to carve out a solid career in college and earn a few Summer League games back in 2019, but he quickly chose to pursue a basketball career in Europe. The Egyptian, playing for one of the best teams in his native country in Zamalek, made a name for himself in the Basketball Africa League.

Mahmoud averaged just 7.6 points per game in the six-game stretch, but he won Defensive Player of the Year after leading Zamalek to the title and averaged 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game. If that defense translates to the pros, he could make the roster.

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Will Anas Mahmoud make the Toronto Raptors roster?

Mahmoud was not a great offensive player in college, and he even had his struggles in the BAL, but he proved to be a rock-solid defender at both levels. On a Raptors team that is lacking size, Mahmoud might be able to carve out a role for himself.

The Raptors know he can defend well, as that has been proven several times over in college and the pros. What he needs to show is some advancements on the offensive end, as doing so could be the X-factor that vaults him over other center prospects and into the Raptors’ plans for 2021 in some capacity.