The Toronto Raptors had an up-and-down time of it in Las Vegas for Summer League this year.
The Raptors joined the league's other 30 teams at the marquee event of July, with young players, newly-drafted prospects and veterans trying to get into the league all suiting up to prove themselves against other NBA talent. The Raptors took an extremely young team that included nine players on the roster, making it an excellent time to evaluate the state of the roster.
The team as a whole disappointed, going 2-3 and displaying a complete inability to shoot from outside all month long. Summer League is not about the records, however, and all about the players. Who comes out of Vegas having strengthened their value moving forward, and who is on shaky ground?
Let's look at three risers and two fallers after Summer League, beginning with what looks to be another undrafted find for this front office.
Riser: Branden Carlson, Center
While the Raptors passed on centers with each of their first three draft picks, they did draft Ulrich Chomche at pick No. 57 and signed undrafted free agent Branden Carlson out of Utah to a two-way contract ahead of Las Vegas Summer League. While Chomche certainly showed some flashes, the best big man on the team by far was Carlson.
The 7'0" center was a shutdown force in the paint, and through the Raptors' first two games he destroyed opponents who tried to get to the rim. His shot-blocking instincts are fantastic and he has the size and footwork to wall off the basket. On offense he showed that he is comfortable shooting from 3-point range, and while he will need to improve his accuracy that confidence will translate well to real NBA games.
Carlson isn't perfect, and teams realized they could draw him out to the perimeter where he struggles defensively. In a drop coverage, however, he is a defensive monster, and add in the shooting and he could be a real weapon down the road, or even this season, as a two-way option at backup center.