Toronto Raptors: Buy, Sell, or Hold after 2 Summer League games
By Mike Luciano
After a particularly turbulent offseason, the Toronto Raptors have finished their first two Summer League games, giving fans their first few looks at Precious Achiuwa, Ishmael Wainright, and No. 4 overall selection Scottie Barnes.
The Raptors looked unstoppable for brief periods during their win against the division rival New York Knicks, but they fell to 1-1 last night after Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and the Golden State Warriors manage to barely take home a win despite Toronto mounting a furious comeback late.
While Summer League might not necessarily be the best indicator of long-term success in the NBA, it is a time to see which players are starting to either show flashes of the player that they will become this year or let off some warning signs that should get the team concerned.
It is time to play stockbroker and do some buying, selling, and holding. Which Raptors developments are trending up after a solid start in Summer League play, and which ones should get the fanbase concerned?
Back in action tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/THCiYLOkDD
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 12, 2021
Buy, Sell or Hold following the Toronto Raptors’ Summer League start.
Buy
Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa made his Raptors debut after coming over from Miami in the Kyle Lowry deal. With his 6-8 frame and raw style of play, it’s fair to wonder if Achiuwa can succeed as the small-ball center he is being billed as. At the very least, he got off to an excellent start against Golden State.
Achiuwa’s 13 points were tied for the second-highest mark on the team, and with 11 rebounds giving him a double-double, it’s easy to argue that he was Toronto’s best player. Athletic enough to go coast-to-coast and finish a layup, yet physical enough to secure the paint on both ends, Precious gave fans a ton of positives to hole on to.
Dalano Banton
Banton, the first Canadian ever drafted by the Raptors, came into the NBA with questions about his offense, though he’s done a superb job of answering those queries in Vegas. After scoring five points against the Knicks, Banton also recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and securing a team-high 12 rebounds on the perimeter.
Dalano Banton with 10 points and 12 boards, giving him a double-double. Very strong outing for the second-rounder out of Nebraska. Good size, skill, and will be a nice young piece for the Raptors.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) August 12, 2021
In addition to his confident offensive showing, Banton’s five steals and five blocks in the last two games prove that he can step right in and make some noise as a defender. If his jump shot becomes a bit more reliable, he could start earning even more rotation time during his rookie season.