Toronto Raptors Blog – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Raptors sign Jared Rhoden

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Jared Rhoden.

Rhoden, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, averaged 4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 17 games with Detroit last season. He shot 50 per cent (33-66) from the field and .387 (12-31) from beyond the arc. Rhoden scored in double figures twice, including a career-high 16 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3PT) Apr. 14 at San Antonio.

A native of Baldwin, New York, Rhoden holds career averages of 4.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 14.3 minutes in 31 career contests with the Pistons after signing a two-way contract in December 2022. During this stretch he also appeared in 53 regular season games with Motor City in the NBA G League, averaging 19.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 35.8 minutes.

Prior to the NBA, Rhoden played four collegiate seasons (2018-22) at Seton Hall where he posted averages of 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 26.0 minutes in 122 career games with the Pirates. In 31 games as a senior, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 33.1 minutes and was named to the All-Big East First Team.

Raptors 2024-25 preseason game schedule

The Raptors will open 2024-25 preseason on Sunday, October 6 against the Washington Wizards at Bell Centre as part of the 10th edition of the NBA Canada Series. The game will mark Toronto’s seventh preseason game in Montréal (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 & 2022). The Raptors also faced Washington at Bell Centre in 2015, winning that matchup 92-82 in front of a sold-out crowd.

Toronto will play five preseason games in total, including one at Scotiabank Arena.

The Raptors are on the road Friday, Oct. 11 at Washington and Sunday, Oct. 13 against the Boston Celtics.

The Raptors return home to host Boston on Tuesday, Oct. 15 before wrapping up the preseason by travelling to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Friday, Oct. 18.

Raptors sign Bruno Fernando

The Toronto Raptors recently signed center Bruno Fernando.

Fernando, 6-foot-10, 246 pounds, averaged career highs of 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in 45 games (two starts) with Atlanta last season. He shot .583 (109-187) from the field and scored in double figures 11 times.

A native of Luanda, Angola, Fernando was selected 34th overall by Philadelphia in 2019, becoming the first Angolan to be drafted into the NBA. He holds career averages of 4.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in 203 games (19 starts) with Atlanta, Boston and Houston.

Prior to his time in the NBA, Fernando played collegiately at Maryland (2017-19), where he earned All-Big 10 First Team and Big 10 All-Defensive honours as a sophomore.

Raptors trade Jalen McDaniels to Kings

The Toronto Raptors have acquired guard Davion Mitchell, forward Sasha Vezenkov, the draft rights to Jamal Shead and a 2025 second round pick (via Portland) in a trade with the Sacramento Kings for forward Jalen McDaniels.

“This trade provides us with a mix of young and veteran players, as well as future flexibility and draft assets, as we continue our quest to win, and so we’re pleased to welcome Davion, Sasha and Jamal to the Raptors and to Toronto,” Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster said. “We thank Jalen for his contributions, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Mitchell, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, averaged 5.3 points, 1.9 assists, 1.3 rebounds and 15.3 minutes in 72 games (four starts) with Sacramento last season. He shot .452 (146-323) from the field, including .361 (57-158) from three-point range, and scored in double figures 12 times. Mitchell holds career averages of 7.4 points, 2.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 20.4 minutes in 227 games (32 starts).

A native of Hinesville, Georgia, Mitchell was picked ninth overall by the Kings in the 2021 NBA Draft. Following one year at Auburn (2017-18), he played two seasons at Baylor (2019-21). As a junior, Mitchell helped the Bears capture the 2021 NCAA Championship and was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

Vezenkov, 6-foot-9, 225 pounds, appeared in 42 contests with the Kings last season, posting averages of 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 12.2 minutes. He shot 44 per cent (84-191) from the floor, .375 (45-120) from beyond the arc, and scored in double digits in eight games.

Vezenkov was picked 57th overall by Brooklyn in the 2017 NBA Draft. Sacramento acquired his draft rights from Cleveland in June 2022. Prior to signing with the Kings last summer, Vezenkov played five seasons (2018-2023) with Olympiacos in Greece where he earned Euroleague MVP honours (2023-23). A native of Nicosia, Cyprus, he has also played professionally overseas with FC Barcelona (2015-18) in Spain and Aris Basketball Club (2011-15) in Greece.

Shead, 6-foot, 201 pounds, was picked 45th overall by Sacramento in the 2024 NBA Draft. He played four seasons at Houston (2020-24) where he averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 27.5 minutes in 138 career games (108 starts). Last season Shead was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and became the first player in Big 12 history to earn Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honours in same season. The Manor, Texas, native finished his career as the second-winningest player in Cougars history with 120-18 record.

McDaniels averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 10.8 minutes in 50 games (one start) with the Raptors last season. He signed as a free agent in July 2023

Jontay Porter banned from the NBA for multiple gambling violations

The NBA announced today that Jontay Porter, a two-way player recently under contract with the Toronto Raptors, has been banned from the NBA. A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.

The league’s investigation found that prior to the Raptors’ March 20 game, Porter disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor. Another individual with whom Porter associated and knew to be an NBA bettor subsequently placed an $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sports book, to win $1.1 million, wagering that Porter would underperform in the March 20 game.

The league’s investigation also found that Porter limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance in at least one Raptors game. In the March 20 game, Porter played only three minutes, claiming that he felt ill. Due to the unusual betting activity and actions of the player, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out.

In addition, from January through March 2024, while traveling with the Raptors or Raptors 905, the Raptors’ NBA G League affiliate, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account. These bets ranged in size from $15 to $22,000, for a total of $54,094. The total payout from these bets was $76,059, resulting in net winnings of $21,965. None of the bets involved any game in which Porter played. Three of the bets were multi-game parlay bets that included one Raptors game, in which Porter bet that the Raptors would lose. All three bets lost.

The suspicious bets involving Porter’s performance in the Raptors’ March 20 game were brought to the NBA’s attention by licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets.

These findings are based on the information available to league investigators at this time. The league’s investigation remains open and may result in further findings. The NBA has shared and will continue to share information with federal prosecutors about this matter.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment. While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”

Raptors sign center Malik Williams to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed center Malik Williams to a 10-day contract.

Williams, 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 23.2 minutes in 33 regular season games (24 starts) with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the G League affiliate of the Miami Heat, this year. He shot .436 (143-328) from the field. Williams scored in double figures 21 times including a career-high 29 points Jan. 19 against the Maine Celtics.

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft and spent last season with Anwil Wloclawek of the Polish OBL where he averaged 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 17.7 minutes, while shooting .445 (89-200) from the field in 31 games (18 starts).

Williams played collegiately at Louisville and averaged 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 17.9 minutes, shooting .444 (311-701) from the field in 123 games (62 starts) over five seasons (2017-22).

Raptors sign Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract.

Simmons, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, is averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 31.6 minutes in 23 regular season games (19 starts) with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League this year. He is shooting .438 (124-283) from the field, .388 (50-129) from three-point range, and .830 (44-53) at the foul line. Simmons has scored in double figures in 19-of-23 games and 20+ points six times, including a career-high 36 points Mar. 11 at Osceola.

Raptors sign DJ Carton to two-way contract

The Toronto Raptors this past Saturday signed guard DJ Carton to a two-way contract.

Carton, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, signed a 10-day contract with Toronto on Feb. 21 and appeared in two games. Prior to his time with Toronto, Carton averaged 18.6 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 35.4 minutes in 29 Showcase Cup and regular season games (all starts) with Iowa in the NBA G League. He shot .527 (184-349) from the field, .395 (51-129) from three-point range and .796 (74-93) at the foul line.

A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, Carton has played three seasons in the G League with Iowa (2022-24) and Greensboro (2021-22), holding career averages of 15.3 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in 61 regular season games (46 starts). Carton played collegiately at Ohio State (2019-20) before transferring to Marquette (2020-21).

Raptors sign D.J. Carton to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors yesterday signed guard D.J. Carton to a 10-day contract.

Carton, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, is averaging 18.6 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 35.4 minutes in 29 Showcase Cup and regular season games (all starts) with Iowa in the NBA G League this season. He is shooting .527 (184-349) from the field, .395 (51-129) from three-point range and .796 (74-93) at the foul line. Carton has scored in double figures 24 times, including 20+ points in 14 games. He has recorded three 30-point performances, highlighted by a career-best 38 points Feb. 13 at Rip City.

A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, Carton has played three seasons in the G League with Iowa (2022-24) and Greensboro (2021-22). He holds career averages of 15.3 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in 61 regular season games (46 starts).

Prior to his time in the G League, Carton played collegiately at Ohio State (2019-20) before transferring to Marquette (2020-21). He was named 2019 Iowa Mr. Basketball and Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior in high school.

Raptors sign Justise Winslow and Mouhamadou Gueye to 10-day contracts

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard-forward Justise Winslow and forward Mouhamadou Gueye to 10-day contracts.

Winslow, 6-foot-6, 222 pounds, averaged 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 26.8 minutes in 17 Showcase Cup and regular season games (11 starts) with Raptors 905 this season. He is shooting .514 (110-214) from the field and .625 (25-40) from the free throw line. A native of Houston, Texas, Winslow was drafted 10th overall by the Miami Heat in the 2015 NBA Draft and holds NBA career averages of 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on .412 shooting in 344 games played with Miami, Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland.

Gueye, 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, averaged 14.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 30.9 minutes in 28 Showcase Cup and regular season games (all starts) with Raptors 905 this season. He is shooting .559 (167-299) from the field. A native of Staten Island, New York, Gueye played two seasons at Stony Brook (2019-21) before transferring to Pittsburgh (2021-22) where he became the first player in Panthers history to lead the team in three-point field goals (43) and blocks (67) in the same season. Gueye played for the Raptors at NBA Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.