3 former Raptors who might be eyeing revenge in 2023-24
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors remade large portions of the roster in 2023, even as they refused trades for players like OG Anunoby and star Pascal Siakam. Masai Ujiri knew that running back the exact same roster from last season was a one-way ticket to more playoff disappointment.
The back end of the bench received a significant facelift, as a whole new crop of two-way signees and veterans are ready to fight for every morsel of playing time. The biggest departure, obviously, was losing Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets after a stellar career in Toronto.
These departures have inadvertently created a bunch of revenge games in which the departed will do everything in their power to stick it to the Raptors after they parted ways. With multiple players joining Eastern Conference rivals, regular season games between the two teams could get quite spicy.
These three players may no longer be on the Raptors, but they will still be in the back of this fanbase’s mind (or the front, in one such case) as they gear up for the chance to exact revenge. Will they be able to take down the Raptors, or will they be forced to take a very public L?
3 former Toronto Raptors eyeing revenge in 2023-24
3. Justin Champagnie, Miami Heat
Champagnie signed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate, after Toronto released him last season. While Boston gave him a chance to stick around before their eventual Summer League waive, the Heat brought him back due to their familiarity with him.
Champagnie being waived always seemed like more of a financial decision than a competitive one, as he had a solid season as an undrafted rookie. After playing in just a handful of garbage-time minutes in Year 2, Champagnie would love nothing more than to stick it to Ujiri.
Justin Champagnie could hurt the Toronto Raptors.
Champagnie appears to have made some incremental progress as a shooter, which was always his most significant obstacle to success with the Raptors. If he can be a reliable sniper, he could end up making a strong impression on Erik Spoelstra in Miami.
On top of the fact that Miami has become a terrific developer of talent in the last few years, they have also been willing to let undrafted and less heralded players wiggle into the rotation. As Miami competes for a championship, Champagnie could play a very small role in their pursuit.