Pascal Siakam has signed out for contract, as……
Siakam’s fellow Raptors players think he has what it takes to be among the top five NBA players.
Following the trade deadline and Spencer Dinwiddie’s “Hello/Goodbye,” the Toronto Raptors had two roster spots available. Though they could have used 13 rosters for two weeks, the Raptors opted to provide 10-day contracts to two players on its 905 roster.
This move ought to provide the Raptors’ coaching staff with a thorough examination of Winslow and Gueye, as the club will be playing at Scotiabank until the All-Star break. Since neither player has been declared as of this writing, we are unsure of their availability for tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers game. Expect Winslow to stick with the main team though, since CBA regulations prevent him from being simply sent to the Raptors 905 on an NBA contract given his more than four years of NBA experience. Additionally, given the break, don’t be shocked if at least one receives a second 10-day contract.
Gueye, 25, is presently playing in his second NBA G League season. He spent the previous season with the Texas Legends after going undrafted out of Pittsburgh. The tall 6’9″ forward has been compared to Toronto’s own Chris Boucher, who is also quite athletic, has a great motor, and a 7’3″ wingspan.
Even though both players were late bloomers, Gueye and Boucher are not comparable to each other as perimeter shooters, at least not right now. Boucher played for the Raptors 905. As the team’s starting centre for the majority of the season, Gueye mostly performed in accordance with his position in the offence. He is having a decent season. During the Showcase Cup, he began the game next to Makur Maker at power forward, but due to Maker’s injury and improved lineups, Gueye was forced to play in the centre.
In a season marred by injuries, Gueye is the team’s “iron man.” Having participated in 29 out of 33 games, he averages 14.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per contest. It’s fantastic to see the main team give Gueye, who participated in Training Camp for the Raptors Summer League squad and then became an affiliate player with the Raptors 905, his due. The Raptors can still send Gueye to the playoffs because he has less than three years of NBA “service.”
F. Justise Winslow
Justise Winslow’s journey back to the NBA has reached a significant milestone as the Raptors have agreed to a 10-day deal with him. Winslow’s journey return to the NBA has been a long one. He last played for the Portland Trail Blazers the previous season, but it ended abruptly when he had an ankle injury that necessitated surgery.
The former lottery pick of the Miami Heat has had a career filled with injuries in the NBA. Since 2018–19, Winslow has not participated in more than 48 games in a season. Whether facing the basket or in the post, he is a dynamic offensive player who can make plays for himself and his teammates when healthy. Even while he may not have been as athletically gifted as he once was due to injuries, his toughness, strength, and defensive versatility more than make up for it.
Despite being a member of the Raptors 905, Winslow took some time to return to the court. He played in just four Showcase Cup games during the season, but he saw action for the first time in the middle of December. He soon increased his workload, participating in 13 of the team’s 17 regular-season games and averaged 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and numerous crucial defensive stops.
905 Reinforcements for Raptors
The Raptors can now add two replacement players because they were able to abduct two players from their farm club. The Raptors 905, per to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet, are adding Yor Anei and Armon Fletcher to replace Winslow and Gueye.
There is some familiarity there because Fletcher was one of the 905 (or 911) reinforcements in December when the squad was shorthanded with only 5–6 active players. He played with the Raptors 905 for a short time before spending more time with the Ontario Lakers and, most recently, the Windy City Bulls two days ago.
Yor Anei gives the Raptors 905 additional depth in the front court. Playing his only game for the Cruise, the 6’10” PF/C had a cup of coffee with the Motor City Cruise back in December. In that game, he finished with two points, five boards, and three blocks.
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