Raptors lose Fred VanVleet to COVID protocol, sign Tremont Waters

Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors did well to avoid a major COVID-19 outbreak for a large chunk of the 2021-22 season, but they finally put someone into the health and safety protocols when Pascal Siakam and Dalano Banton were deactivated on December 18.

Toronto has reached full-on outbreak status in the last few days. Gary Trent Jr. entered the protocols on Monday, and the absence of those three players necessitated the signings of Brandon Goodwin, Juwan Morgan, and Nik Stauskas.

VanVleet was tasked with stepping up and giving this team a boost now that two of their top four scorers were on the shelf. Unfortunately, VanVleet could not escape the looming specter of the virus.

VanVleet and Malachi Flynn became the fourth and fifth Raptors to be placed in the health and safety protocols, where they will remain for 10 days or until they test negative twice in 24 hours. These two could miss games against the Bulls, Cavaliers, and 76ers before the end of the year.

Shams Charania is reporting the Raptors agreed to a 10-day contract with Tremont Waters, who had been playing with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd. What will Waters bring to the team?

The Raptors signed Tremont Waters to replace Fred VanVleet.

Waters was picked 51st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft after a very productive career at LSU. While he was able to distribute the ball, pile up steals, and score, his skinny 5-10 frame made teams around the league nervous. Waters averaged 3.8 points and 2.1 assists per game over two years with the Boston Celtics.

Waters spent most of this season in the G League, averaging 17.2 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. In much the same vein as Goodwin, Waters can make plays as a passer and finisher near the rim. A 36% 3-point shooter in the G League, Waters can hold his own on offense.

Obviously, the combination of Waters and Goodwin is not going to help replace VanVleet, Banton, and Flynn. This is nothing short of a gut punch for a Raptors team on the fringes of a postseason spot, as they will have to play their next three or four games with a collection of G League players in place of established veterans.

If VanVleet and Flynn wait the required 10 days, they will be eligible to come off of the COVID-19 list after a New Year’s Eve game against the Clippers. We have likely seen the last of these two until the calendar flips to 2022.