Title: Raptors roster breakdown: How final cut impacts cap, Raptors 905 and more
Date: October 22, 2023
Original Source: Sportsnet
Synopsis: In my latest at Sportsnet, I took a look at the Raptors final roster decisions and how it sets up their cap sheet and 905 roster for the year.
The Toronto Raptors made their final roster moves of the preseason Sunday, locking in their 18-man roster for opening night and giving us an early glimpse of what Raptors 905 could look like in the G League.
As far as training camps go, this one was without much roster competition. We knew when the team embarked on Vancouver that they had 15 guaranteed contracts and three players signed to two-way deals, and as it turns out, that’s the exact group they’ll start the season with. The questions that existed were more ancillary, like how ready to play Otto Porter Jr. would be or which 905-bound players would stand out most.
The only real roster question was whether Jeff Dowtin Jr. could do enough to carve out a spot. He was the only player among the 21 without preexisting clarity on their spot and, despite his best efforts this fall and last season, the Raptors decided to cut him. Mo Gueye and Makur Maker were also waived, though that was always the expectation.
Because this is the NBA in the year 2023, some of those final transactions require some explanation.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 