While the Toronto Raptors needed anyone with a pulse to fill roster spots on a 10-day contract due to the effects of COVID-19, they did not choose to bring Reggie Perry up from the G League. Perry has been performing well with Raptors 905 in the G League so far this season.
While Perry was picked in the second round by the rival Nets last season, he was only retained for just one season. While he is skilled in the post on offense, he didn’t have enough defensive skill or experience for a Brooklyn team that was looking for both of those traits in order to contend for a championship.
Perry was added to the Raptors’ roster on an Exhibit 10 contract with the aim of improving his defense and all-around game in the G League. Before Toronto could bring him up to the NBA, an opportunistic Portland Trail Blazers team was able to snatch him up to bolster their depleted reserves.
With seven players, including Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington, in the health and safety protocols alongside head coach Chauncey Billups, Portland signed Perry to a 10-day hardship deal. The Blazers pounced on Toronto’s inaction and added a promising big man.
The Portland Trail Blazers plan to sign F/C Reggie Perry on a 10-day hardship deal, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The former Nets second-rounder is averaging 19.7 PPG/10.1 RPG for G League’s Raptors 905 this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2021
The Toronto Raptors lost Reggie Perry to Portland.
After being picked in the second round out of Mississippi State in 2020, Perry averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in some brief action with Brooklyn. He was released after a wave of low-cost veteran signings from Brooklyn, and Toronto added him to their G League team afterward.
Perry averaged 19.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in 11 games in Mississauga this season. Perry has become a weapon from 3-point range, making almost 38% of his 3-point attempts while chucking up 5.5 attempts per game. With Portland, he might show that he has fixed the issues that held him back in Brooklyn.
Perry himself seemed to be thrilled with his return to the NBA, tweeting out “The Lord work in mysterious ways.” As bad as this current COVID-19 situation may be, it’s nice to see players like Perry rise from the ranks of the G League and get another shot at sticking in the NBA.
https://twitter.com/_R1bang_/status/1475542769942863883
The Raptors decided to lean on Juwan Morgan, DJ Wilson, and Daniel Oturu to fill their roster holes over Perry. At least Perry is getting an NBA shot that Toronto may not have been able to provide. Let’s see if the lessons the 905 staff instilled in him help turn his career around.