1 reason to get excited about 3 of the Raptors’ 10-day signings
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors have been ravaged by the recent COVID-19 outbreak, as eight different players, including all five of their projected starters, have entered the league’s health and safety protocols. To offset those losses, Toronto agreed to terms with Juwan Morgan, Tremont Waters, and DJ Wilson on 10-day contracts.
While the Raptors originally planned to sign Nik Stauskas and Brandon Goodwin in addition to those three, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that some of the players the Raptors called up also entered the health and safety protocols. Those two signings might need to be put on ice for a while.
These three players could not have skillsets that are any more different from one another. While Waters is a slender 5-10 point guard with handles, Morgan is a wide-bodied pick-and-pop threat and Wilson is a lean rim-runner with very intriguing athleticism.
The Raptors might be in for some tough sledding until all of their stars can return, but that’s no reason to be completely down in the dumps. Each of these three players brings something new and interesting to the table as they try to put on a show for both the Raptors and the rest of the league.
1 reason to get excited about the Toronto Raptors’ 10-day signings.
Juwan Morgan: 3-point shooting
Morgan, a former college teammate of OG Anunoby at Indiana, was a traditional low-post big for most of his collegiate experience. After a few cups of coffee in Utah, Morgan has taken on the task of becoming a more refined and efficient 3-point shooter. The results have been very encouraging.
Morgan made 39% of his 3-point attempts on just under four attempts per game with the G League’s Maine Celtics. With Chris Boucher still struggling from 3-point range, Morgan might be able to give Toronto a boost in this area until Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa return.
Juwan Morgan could be a pick-and-pop weapon for the Toronto Raptors.
Morgan is listed at 232 pounds, but he looks and plays much bigger than that. Morgan has proven to be a solid low-post presence when he isn’t waiting around the 3-point line, which should put him in line for some small ball center work on such a depleted Raptors team.
Toronto will need anyone and everyone to step up in order to protect the paint against two big teams in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Morgan can do that while becoming a weapon from 3-point range. Don’t be surprised if his Raptors career lasts more than 10 days.