Raptors news: Adrian Griffin shouts out Fred VanVleet, Raptors renounce FAs

Adrian Griffin and the Toronto Raptors barely squeaked out a one-point victory against the lowly Detroit Pistons on Super Bowl Sunday, getting back on the right track following a pitiful home collapse against the Jazz. Griffin was filling in for head coach Nick Nurse, who say this contest out due to personal reasons.

Griffin could not have done this alone. Luckily, a team laden with veterans like Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam was able to play a big role in getting this team calmed down and ready to take on Detroit. Griffin made sure to give them a shoutout amid a wild finish.

Griffin said that VanVleet was calling tons of plays in the game and helping get the team situated. Griffin thanked VanVleet for “helping me coach the team.” VanVleet scored 35 points while pulling double duty as a coach. Not a bad day at the office in total for No. 23, especially considering he is coming off a big stinker against Utah.

More Raptors news

• The Raptors signed wing Joe Wieskamp, who was originally brought to Toronto on a 10-day contract, to a multi-year deal that will keep him north of the border for the remainder of the season. Wieskamp, another San Antonio Spurs transplant, was a tremendous shooter during his collegiate career at Iowa. He should be a welcome source of triples when called into action.
• The Raptors needed to renounce the rights to many of their international free agents in order to make the Poeltl trade viable. These players include another former Spur in Nando De Colo, 2019 champions Jeremy Lin and Jodie Meeks, and 2021 holdover Isaac Bonga.

NBA news

• The buyout market is really starting to heat up. Former Raptors guard Danny Green has been bought out by the Houston Rockets in order to sign a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Terence Ross will leave the Orlando Magic in order to join the Phoenix Suns. Reggie Jackson has been let go by the Charlotte Hornets so he can link up with the Denver Nuggets.
• Despite shooting 45% from 3-point range, another former Raptors player in forward Stanley Johnson has been let go by the San Antonio Spurs. After being cut loose by Masai Ujiri, Johnson went from a 10-day COVID-19 replacement to a full-time starter with the Lakers. The former No. 8 overall pick was cut loose by a Spurs team that wants to lean into their youth movement.