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.

https://twitter.com/UsherKomugisha/status/1423205007688622082

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.

3. SG Ashton Hagans

Hagans was a former 5-star recruit who chose to buck the trend and spend two years in Kentucky. After averaging 11.5 points per game and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Hagans got his NBA career started off on the wrong foot, and he will look to rectify that with Toronto.

Hagans played in just two games for the Timberwolves before Minnesota sent him to the G League. He was waived in February for breaking the G League bubble’s COVID-19 protocols. So, yeah, not the best. Can he convince Toronto he is worth a role with either Raptors 905 or the big-league club?

Will Ashton Hagans show off an improved jump shot?

Hagans was never the best scorer or perimeter shooter in college, so working on that will be key for him if he wants to make it in the NBA. Luckily, due to his lockdown defense and blinding speed with the ball in his hands, he has plenty of positive traits to show off with the shooting excluded.

The Raptors have enough guards that can handle the ball and pass between Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn. What they need are perimeter 3-and-D players behind Gary Trent Jr. in the rotation. Hagans has the “D” part down, and if he starts hitting jumpers in the Summer League, Toronto might try to make him a two-way player.

2. PF Justin Champagnie

Champagnie signed with the Raptors as an undrafted free agent, and the fact that the Raptors were able to pluck him from those ranks and sign him to a UDFA deal is simply astounding given the amazing production he put up during his time at Pitt. He’ll get to show off what he’s got in Vegas.

Champagnie averaged 18.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last year in the ACC, and while the Raptors will need some assurance that he has worked on his 3-point shot, he has proven to be a dominant rebounder, and the Raptors could plug him in nicely due to their array of power forwards.

Justin Champagnie could be an impact bench player for the Raptors.

Champagnie might not have a traditional power forward frame at 6-6 and barely over 200 pounds, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a master rebounder and irritating interior defender for opponents. With the Raptors fully committed to riding the “positionless basketball” wave, Champagnie could fill holes in a multitude of settings.

While Barnes will be a major part of the rotation, and both Banton and Johnson will see time at the end of the bench, Champagnie’s two-way deal means that he is guaranteed almost nothing. If he impressed Toronto with his blend of scrappiness, efficiency, and versatility, he’ll stick around for the long haul.

1. PG Malachi Flynn

Flynn overcame an extremely slow start to his rookie season to eventually win Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. If everything goes as planned, and VanVleet assumed the role of starting point guard, Flynn should be in line to handle the backup responsibilities.

Flynn can defend and shoot 3-pointers at a solid clip for the NBA, but his issues finishing at the rim haunted him last year. If his offseason work is any indication of what sort of player he is becoming, Flynn has worked tirelessly to improve his speed, skill at creating offense for himself, and consistency near the basket.

https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1422612729551101955

How much has Raptors point guard Malachi Flynn improved?

VanVleet will be the starting point guard, but Flynn is the clear No. 2 option, and will be one of the first men off of the bench. The Raptors will have a much-reduced tolerance for Flynn making mistakes. The first, and perhaps best, place Flynn can show off his improvements before the season is in the Summer League.

Knowing that Lowry’s free agency could be a very tenuous situation, the Raptors drafted Flynn will the hope of meshing with VanVleet and keeping the point guard room afloat. With a strong showing in this set of games, Flynn can set the stage for an incredibly successful breakout year.