How’d We Get Here?

The Raptors knew the risks when they acquired from Kawhi Leonard in the thick of the night last summer. Leonard, and Danny Green, are gone, leaving the Raptors without two starters from last season. Stuck in limbo as they awaited Leonard’s decision, and generally operating without much money to spend regardless, the Raptors waded into the discount market to find reclamation projects and value deals – the sort of hard development work that had built Toronto’s program in the first place. The Raptors may fall back into the pack as the other top teams in the East load up, and losing Leonard stings, but nobody’s taking their banner away. That’s all that counts, really.

Offseason Moves

Arrivals: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johson, Cameron Payne, Devin Robinson
Rookie Arrivals: Dewan Hernandez (No. 59), Terence Davis (UDFA), Matt Thomas (Europe)
Departures: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Jeremy Lin, Jodie Meeks, Eric Moreland, Jordan Loyd
Retained: Patrick McCaw

Depth Chart and Minutes Per Game

PG: Kyle Lowry (32-34) / Fred VanVleet (28-29) / Cameron Payne (0, 8-16) / Isaiah Taylor (0, 8-16)
SG: Norman Powell (21-26) / Patrick McCaw (0, 14-19) / Matt Thomas (0, 8-16) / Terence Davis (0, 7-14)
SF: OG Anunoby (28-31) / Stanley Johnson (16-24) / Malcolm Miller
PF: Pascal Siakam (34-36) / Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (17-24) / Dewan Hernandez
C: Marc Gasol (29-31) / Serge Ibaka (26-28) / Chris Boucher (0, 9-18)

Position Battles

Point Guard: Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet were both huge in the postseason and will return to lead a team that’s going to lean more on movement than Kawhi’s automatic mode. Lowry will start and VanVleet will be the team’s sixth man, and Toronto will run enough two-PG lineups – especially with Green’s departure – that both players will log significant time. One thing worth watching is how the playing time shifts over time, if it does at all. Lowry is an impending free agent and the Raptors look to be on the cusp of a rebuild, while VanVleet is also an impending free agent and could be a long-term piece in Toronto. If the Raptors feel that they’re just delaying the inevitable, VanVleet could chip away at Lowry’s workload with an eye on the future. Cameron Payne will operate as the third point guard but is unlikely to see much run barring injury, while intriguing rookie Terence Davis will get combo guard minutes and may be ahead of Payne in the pecking order.

Shooting Guard: This is the position with the most question marks, as the Raptors could go a number of different routes. A Lowry-VanVleet backcourt has served the team incredibly well, but would they dare trot it out in the starting lineup? Norman Powell was key to Toronto’s win over the Bucks and is not far removed from looking like a starter. Is it his job to run with? Does Patrick McCaw get a longer look after spending the full offseason with Toronto? What of Davis and sharpshooter Matt Thomas, who each bring unique skills to the table? The Raptors will do plenty of mixing and matching, but until we see how things shake out in the preseason it will be very tough to forecast. VanVleet is the only player who will get two-guard minutes that is a safe bet to land near the standard-league radar, but Powell could break through and Thomas looks like 3-point specialist material.

Small Forward: OG Anunoby was a bit of a forgotten man after an appendectomy prevented him from playing at all in the playoffs, but the Raptors are still very high on him and will give him every chance to succeed. Anunoby started as a rookie and only moved to the bench because of Kawhi Leonard’s arrival, and he could be a guy that sneaks up on a lot of fantasy owners. Stanley Johnson is always on the deep-league radar as a source of steals and could round out his game if Toronto’s development staff can work some more magic. Those two, plus spot minutes for Powell, should comprise the entire small forward rotation, but Malcolm Miller could also provide some 3-and-D depth if he makes it through final cuts.

Power Forward: The ascendant Pascal Siakam is going to be the Raptors’ new building block, and next year will be a large test for him after he burst onto the scene. It will be the first season where he’s treated as a primary option by opponents, and the Raptors should also look to see how deep his bag of tricks is. That means we might see Siakam do more distributing and shooting, plus some more time at center. Behind him, the Raptors will look to rebuild Rondae Hollis-Jefferson after his rough season in Brooklyn. His length and defensive ability fit right in with the team’s identity, though he probably won’t play enough to get back on the standard-league radar despite fantastic bounce-back potential. G-League beast Chris Boucher might get some minutes if Toronto plays well below expectations, but remains more of a dynasty target.

Center: Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka will give the Raptors two quality centers whose strengths will allow either to shine in specific matchups. Both players should be commended for their willingness to sacrifice last season, as the frontcourt play was one of the more underrated aspects of Toronto’s championship. This season will be particularly interesting for Gasol, who turned himself into a pure distributor after being traded – Leonard is leaving a lot of usage behind, and Big Spain could breeze past last season’s numbers from his Raptors tenure. Both could be trade targets, however, and fantasy managers should at least prepare for the possibility if the Raptors are scuffling along halfway through the year. You can also expect to see more of Siakam at center, as it’s a dynamic look that the team rarely explored last season.

Outlook

The Raptors don’t look particularly likely to repeat, and may have a difficult time getting past the second round. Masai Ujiri will give the team a chance to prove itself before making any moves, and while their ceiling is much lower than last year, it’s still too good to expect that Toronto will move all of Lowry, Gasol and Ibaka. Ujiri will make the right deal if it comes along but will not force the issue, and frankly the Raptors are still good enough to expect a playoff spot, and potentially home court in the first round. The typical names will remain fantasy-relevant, but there are some fringe names worth knowing as there’s more room at the table for everyone to eat.

Player Profiles

Kyle Lowry, PG

Total Value: 40 / 49 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 25 / 36 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 65

2018-19 Review: Lowry got off to a blistering start to the season, leading the league in assists for most of the first month of action and shooting .496 over his first 10 games. He would then go through a lengthy shooting slump that would result in a six-year low in field goal percentage (411). He’s fully embraced facilitator mode and was the connective tissue that connected the team’s wide range of offensive styles but it resulted in a slight step back for fantasy purposes as Lowry saw declines in scoring, rebounding, threes and percentages.

This Year: Lowry enters what could be an uncomfortable year. He’s cemented his legacy as the best Raptor ever but is in the final year of his expensive contract, and the team looks ready to pivot to younger alternatives shortly. It’s expected that his minutes get dialed back a little bit, but the team is still too good to go straight into the lottery and we’re not too worried about him dealing with a significant role change. Look for Lowry to take on more of a scoring role when he is on the floor this season.

Injury History: Lowry battled back problems (eight games over three separate stints, including pain-relieving injections), a thigh contusion (four games) and injuries to both ankles (two games apiece). He also suffered a left thumb dislocation in the playoffs and underwent offseason surgery but that isn’t expected to affect his regular season.

In 2017-18 he missed only three games after landing hard on his tailbone but the year before that he missed 21 games after undergoing surgery to remove "loose bodies" in his shooting wrist and then sprained his ankle in the playoffs. Lowry’s no spring chicken anymore, so you can expect him to spend a chunk of games in street clothes.

Outlook: While Lowry should be absorbing some extra usage, the Raptors might not want to ask him to take on his old role knowing that he could be gone after this season. His shooting has been in decline for three years now (but we don’t imagine he’ll go much lower than last year’s mark) and any cuts in playing time will have corresponding effects in his money stats. Lowry’s probably more of a fourth/fifth-round guy after posting top-30 value for these past few campaigns.

Pascal Siakam, PF

Total Value: 27 / 26 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 47 / 40 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 80

2018-19 Review: Siakam ran through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man last year, surprising pretty much everyone by taking astronomical leaps in his development. He was one of our top sleepers in last year’s draft guide but even we didn’t expect this sort of explosion. Siakam was able to blast by opponents with his quickness and has enough agility to confound defenders with an array of spins, floaters and crazy-angled bankers off the glass. His controlled exposure to each facet of the game through his first two seasons allowed him to bring everything together in an explosive blur. Siakam usurped a starting role on a 60-win team and emerged as a vital two-way piece for the Raptors, producing career-highs across the board with 17.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.0 threes on .548 from the field and .785 at the line.

This Year: With Kawhi Leonard gone, it’s clear that this is now Siakam’s team. He won’t change the game flow in the same way, but Spicy P is Toronto’s new core piece and what they do moving forward will be made with him in mind. We’ll see how defenses react to him this season -- they had success turning him into a jump-shooter in the playoffs.

Injury History: Siakam played through a right calf issue in the second round of the playoffs but missed just one game due to injury -- back soreness -- in the regular season. He didn’t hit the injury report in his first two years in the league.

Outlook: Although Siakam could lose a few points off his field goal percentage with defenses now keying in on him, we’re expecting increases in points, threes and assists in the vacated Kawhi usage -- with the scoring potentially due for a significant jump. If you can draft Siakam at last year’s finish you’ll probably come away happy.

Marc Gasol, C

Total Value: 34 / 31 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 50 / 46 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 79

2018-19 Review: The final results were acceptable but Gasol saw a notable decline in his output after being traded. The 16.3 percent usage he posted as a Raptor is the lowest mark he's posted in any year of his career, and he simply doesn't need to dominate touches to make the Toronto offense hum with his basketball IQ. While his season averages of 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 triples in 30.9 mpg are fine and dandy, Gasol only averaged 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 triples in 25.0 mpg with the Raptors. From his Raptors debut onward, he was only a top-95 player.

This Year: Gasol’s decision to opt-in with Toronto is far from a death knell, however, as Kawhi Leonard’s decision opens up a ton of usage and should theoretically empower Gasol to assert himself more as a scorer. The rest of his game carried over, which bodes well.

Injury History: Big Spain has been remarkably healthy these last two seasons, playing through any minor injuries and really only sitting out for rest purposes and illnesses. Three years ago he missed some time with a foot strain and suffered a mid-foot fracture four years back but Gasol isn’t as much of an injury risk as you might think.

Outlook: There’s a happy medium in between Gasol’s numbers with the Grizzlies and his output as a support player with the Raptors, and it looks a lot closer to the Memphis stats. Some dips in rebounds and steals are to be expected but we could actually see Gasol improve in terms of assists and threes, so we’re on board with spending a fifth-round selection here.

Serge Ibaka, C

Total Value: 65 / 56 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 71 / 62 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 74

2018-19 Review: After looking out of gas in 2017-18, Ibaka found the fountain of youth as a full-time center. He wasn’t exposed on the perimeter and could focus more on protecting the rim defensively, and on the other end of the floor he was able to get to his money spots in the mid-range rather than jack up triples. Ibaka took only 2.3 triples per game this year, which is the fewest he’s taken since 2013-14 – the last year where Ibaka didn’t have threes as a regular part of the arsenal. Though he hit them at just 29 percent, his changing shot spectrum resulted in a .529 mark from the field, which not-so-coincidentally was his highest since 2013-14. His 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds were both the second-highest marks of his career while Serge’s swats stayed solid at 1.4 per contest.

This Year: While he’ll still be a full-time center, he won’t have the benefit of starting over Marc Gasol the same way he did when platooning with Jonas Valanciunas. We’ll see if the Raptors get a little more flexible in moving him around with all the roster turnover, but either way we see him staying in last season’s 27 mpg neighborhood.

Injury History: As for those eight absences, four came for right knee soreness/swelling, three for suspension and one for rest. While Ibaka’s knees haven’t looked the same since undergoing a scope in 2014-15, he’s managed to stay on the floor for the most part, missing 21 games over four years.

Outlook: The presence of Gasol over a full season does figure to ding Ibaka a little bit, as it did last season (top-60/50 in 28.9 mpg pre-Gasol, top-90/70 in 23.3 mpg after), but we anticipate the playing time evening out a bit. Consider Ibaka a viable top-100 selection whose career has been prolonged by the positional change.

Fred VanVleet, PG

Total Value: 143 / 137 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 140 / 130 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 64

2018-19 Review: VanVleet was critical to Toronto’s championship with the way he played against Milwaukee and then Steph Curry and the Warriors, even drawing a vote for Finals MVP. He’s become invaluable to the Raptors over the last two years and delivered career-highs in points (11.0), rebounds (2.6), assists (4.8) and 3-pointers (1.8) in 27.5 mpg.

This Year: With Kyle Lowry on an expiring deal, VanVleet, who is also on an expiring deal, will be given a chance to prove that he can be Toronto’s point guard moving forward. He already logs significant minutes as the team’s sixth man and fill-in starter of choice but we could see FVV get even closer to 30 mpg between the big-picture personnel decisions and the minutes left behind by Danny Green -- the Raptors love two-PG lineups and now have more excuses to run them.

Injury History: VanVleet is starting to rack up some injuries. Last season he missed 12 straight games after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his left thumb around the All-Star break, and he also missed four games with a sprained left big toe and one apiece for back and thigh issues. After the season VanVleet revealed that he dealt with back issues for much of the year and a hip pointer in the postseason, in addition to stitches and a chipped tooth, but none of that forced him out of action.

In 2017-18 he spent time on the sidelines due to a right hand contusion, a tight back and a right knee contusion, as well as a shoulder strain on the last night of the regular season that limited him in the playoffs. There’s no one major issue there but it’s a lot of nicks and bumps.

Outlook: VanVleet is trending up, and though his game is rarely flashy we expect to see increases in points, threes, assists and steals as he gets a little bit more of the spotlight. He’s a great late-round target in all leagues and has top-100 upside, with the added bonus of limited turnovers from a guard slot for 9-cat players.

Norman Powell, SG

Total Value: 230 / 228 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 224 / 233 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 60

2018-19 Review: Powell’s season looked like it was swirling the drain when a shoulder injury knocked him out of 21 games, but he returned with renewed verve and became a key bench contributor down the stretch and in the playoffs. The Raptors do not beat Milwaukee without him. The big change in Powell's game this year was him hitting nearly 40 percent from deep, as he is only a .344 career 3-point shooter. A player who generally leans on confidence, Norm gets marks for fighting through a tough start and then riding the good vibes to another big postseason effort.

This Year: As it stands, Powell looks to be the favorite to start at shooting guard. His promotion has been delayed for a couple seasons now, first as OG Anunoby took his spot and then as Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green showed up, but the deck is now cleared enough to declare that this will actually be the year where Powell becomes a full-time starter. A career-high in minutes is a safe bet, though he’s unlikely to be a 30-minute type.

Injury History: Powell missed 21 games because of a left shoulder subluxation last season. It was his first real injury, as the year prior saw him miss four games with a hip pointer and get a few DNP-CDs. He rebounded well enough from the injury for us to count him as low-risk.

Outlook: If Norm was able to post top-230 numbers in under 20 mpg, it’s conceivable that he gets at least to the top-175 with 25 minutes a night and the added usage that’ll come with them. His shooting is probably due for regression, which stops us short of calling him a 12-team flier, but Powell should be able to notch double-digit scoring with six-plus combined rebounds and assists and something like 2.5 cash counters a night. He’s worth a late shot in 14-teamers and we’d excuse you for taking a chance in smaller leagues.

OG Anunoby, SF

Total Value: 251 / 247 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 293 / 287 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 67

2018-19 Review: Anunoby, like Pascal Siakam, is tracking as a core piece in the next era of Toronto basketball. Last season was a trying one, as he had to deal with the passing of his father early in the season and then a number of injuries over the course of the year. It resulted in what looked like stagnant development, as Anunoby couldn’t earn more playing time and shot worse from all three levels, with particular dips in 3-point shooting (.371 to .332) and free throw shooting (.629 to .581). He gets a pass because of all the trips out of the lineup but it wasn’t an encouraging season.

This Year: Since OG was set to start at small forward before the whole Kawhi thing, he’s a solid bet to return to that role after a one-year detour. His 3-and-D game is a nice complement to Siakam and the two can handle most defensive matchups without stumbling into an unworkable mismatch. The Raptors have quietly encouraged Anunoby to operate with a scorer’s mentality in low-leverage moments and exhibition contests, so we’ll see if that work can lead to some surprising numbers this season.

Injury History: Beyond the personal absences, Anunoby missed three games with a right wrist sprain and four with concussion-like symptoms before undergoing an emergency appendectomy on the eve of the playoffs. Complications from the surgery led to significant weight loss that prevented him from playing at all in the postseason, but he’s expected to be at full strength for next year.

Anunoby tore his ACL in college and missed eight games with an ankle sprain as a rookie but he’s still just short of being classified a moderate risk to us.

Outlook: The Raptors will try and toe the line of staying competitive while hitting the gas on development for players like Anunoby, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the new load. He’s only been a top-300 guy in each of his first two seasons so we can’t imagine that he becomes more than a top-200 option this year, even if he gets a big bump in playing time. There are better fliers to take in 16-teamers but the expanded role makes him worth a roll of the dice in anything deeper.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, PF

Total Value: 276 / 296 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 302 / 330 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 59

2018-19 Review: Hollis-Jefferson posted the worst season of his career last season, which was especially dispiriting because he was coming off a career year and looked to be an important piece of a Nets team on the rise. He ended up struggling with groin injuries and never seemed to catch up with his teammates, eventually falling out of the rotation. RHJ shot a career-low .411 from the field and .685 from the line while also setting a career-low with just 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest. His playing time fell from 28.2 to 20.9 mpg in a year where nothing went right.

This Year: The Raptors scooped Hollis-Jefferson up off the secondary market and theoretically he’ll fit into the organization’s ethos as a lengthy athlete and solid defender. He’s going to be in the mix for backup minutes at both forward spots, and while the Raptors have some long-term pieces in place at the three and the four we’d expect RHJ to get more minutes than he did last season. Expect the team’s development staff to spend time trying to fix that flaky jumper, but even if that never comes around Hollis-Jefferson has found a nice landing spot to try and rehab his value with a team that is looking for his baseline skills.

Injury History: Hollis-Jefferson sustained a right adductor strain playing in Jeremy Lin’s summertime charity game, and it really took the wind from his sails. After sustaining the injury in August he ended up missing the entire preseason and the first three games of the year (two were listed for personal reasons, one for the groin). He later suffered a right adductor strain and missed seven games. The rest of his absences were DNPs aside from a one-game ankle issues, though he played through a left shoulder strain.

In 2017-18 he missed 11 games with a groin strain, though he also missed one because of a right hip contusion and two with a right ankle sprain. Previously he has dealt with right hip tendonitis and a right ankle sprain, and his rookie year was cut short by non-displaced fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle. There’s definite risk with RHJ, who has topped 70 games just once in four tries.

Outlook: Hollis-Jefferson isn’t that far removed from being a top-100 fantasy player, even if it feels like it. He may never come around as a shooter but if he can end up with 25 mpg there’s top-200 potential. It would take better shooting and some more steals, both of which seem likely after RHJ had his worst season ever in those departments, and it helps that the Raptors can give him a clearly defined role that plays right to his strengths. Hollis-Jefferson makes for a flier in 16-team formats.

Patrick McCaw, SG

Total Value: 382 / 378 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 377 / 363 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 29

2018-19 Review: McCaw had one of the stranger years in recent memory, refusing to sign his qualifying offer from the Warriors and waiting for an offer sheet that never really came. He ended up making a pit stop in Cleveland when the Warriors gave up the ghost, and McCaw ended up signing with the Raptors. It was an odd fit since many assumed he was looking for playing time and McCaw was on the fringe of the rotation for most of the year.

This Year: The Raptors re-signed McCaw and he gives them another long wing player to work with. He was laughably passive on offense last season and it’ll be up to the organization’s development staff to sort out the kinks on that side of the floor. The defensive potential is there, however, and McCaw is going to be battling for minutes on the wings. He’s probably going to be in the rotation but we don’t envision him landing a big role.

Injury History: McCaw didn’t log a full season but still managed to get hurt. A left thumb sprain kept him out for about three weeks, though it was a big step up on his 2017-18 campaign. That year he missed two games with a concussion in December, two with a mid-back strain in January, sprained his left thumb, sprained his right wrist and then sustained a fracture in his left wrist. There was of course the scary back injury (a lumbosacral bone bruise) he sustained on March 31 when he was undercut going for a dunk that kept him out until deep into the playoffs.

Outlook: We haven’t seen enough in McCaw’s offensive game to project him as more than a top-300 option, even if a full summer with a team will do a world of good following last year’s debacle.

Stanley Johnson, SF

Total Value: 234 / 246 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 262 / 284 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 66

2018-19 Review: Dwane Casey was blowing smoke in the preseason but this was the year where Detroit finally gave up on Johnson, who was traded to the Pelicans at the deadline. He received only 20 minutes a night with the Pistons and saw only 14 with New Orleans as he wasn’t a priority in either locale. He managed 0.9 steals in his 18.3 mpg overall but Johnson continues to struggle on offense, hitting .288 from deep and .389 from the field overall (though that’s a career-high).

This Year: Johnson signed with the Raptors as a free agent, and he’ll be part of the committee that makes up for the minutes vacated by Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. He fits the profile of what Toronto looks for in terms of being a strong defender, and the hope is that the development crew can help coax a workable jumper out of him. He figures to be the primary backup at small forward and will face competition for minutes from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, among others.

Injury History: Johnson sprained his right shoulder as a rookie and missed 11 games with hip soreness in his third year. Last season Johnson missed three games with a left ankle contusion, one with a left leg contusion and one with a toe injury. He’s not a risk to miss significant time.

Outlook: There’s steals appeal and it’s always worth keeping an eye on a raw talent entering a strong program with good opportunity in front of him, but Johnson shouldn’t be a draft consideration outside of 20-team formats.

Chris Boucher, PF

Total Value: 386 / 368 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 373 / 330 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 28

2018-19 Review: Boucher only made cameos for Toronto this season, with his most notable stretch coming as a backup center when Jonas Valanciunas was hurt and Greg Monroe was terrible. The big numbers came with Raptors 905 as he was named the G-League MVP as well as the G-League Defensive Player of the Year. Boucher put up eye-popping averages of 27.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 4.1 blocks and 2.2 3-pointers per game on .510 from the field and looks like a real stat magnet.

This Year: The Raptors have hinted at Boucher switching from center to power forward to help cover for his lack of strength, and there could be frontcourt minutes available for him this year. Even so, he’s likely to be used selectively. One day Boucher’s impactful per-minute lines will be more than shooting stars, but that probably won’t be this season.

Injury History: Boucher dealt with back spasms throughout the playoffs as well as minor ankle issues throughout the regular season. He tore his ACL back in college but there isn’t a ton to make us think he’s a significant risk.

Outlook: One only needs to look at those G-League numbers to understand why Boucher is such an interesting long-term project. He might get more than garbage time run this season, but we don’t imagine he’ll play enough to get too far into the top-300. Dynasty managers can get more aggressive here.

Matt Thomas (R), SG

2018-19 Review: Thomas, a 24-year-old who went to college at Iowa State, has spent the last couple of years playing in Spain. Last season he shot a blistering .485 from behind the arc and was a big part of Valencia's EuroCup title. In his two years in Spain, Thomas has hit 47 percent of his threes on 4.9 attempts per game.

This Year: Well we know what role Thomas is coming to play. Aside from Danny Green the Raptors lacked a true sniper from the outside, and Thomas is going to get in the backup shooting guard mix. He’ll have to answer questions about his defense but the shooting should travel.

Injury History: Nada.

Outlook: Deep-leaguers in need of triples can feel free to roll the dice with Thomas, who figures to go under the radar for more casual fantasy players.

Terence Davis (R), SG

2018-19 Review: Davis went undrafted after four years at Ole Miss where he averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 3-pointers in his senior season while shooting .444 from the field and a career-best .371 from deep. At 6’5" with a 6’9" wingspan, the Nuggets invited the combo guard in for Summer League. He made one appearance before the Raptors offered a two-year deal.

This Year: The first year of said deal is fully guaranteed, which makes Davis one of the fastest-rising UDFAs in recent history. He had a couple of multi-cat lines while playing with the Raptors at Summer League and could be in the mix for minutes as a third point guard or shooting guard. He has great defensive tools and plays with some physicality, which will help him fit in with the program.

Injury History: Davis enters the NBA injury-free.

Outlook: Most rookies don’t amount to anything out of the gate for fantasy purposes, but Davis brings an interesting mix of skills and circumstance to the table. His skills suggest a player that can chip in across the box score and the Raptors have some open spots where he can help out. He’s on the board as a 30-team flier that could get inside the top-300 with some luck.

Cameron Payne, PG

Total Value: 319 / 319 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 279 / 295 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 40

2018-19 Review: Payne opened the season as Chicago’s backup point guard but eventually got waived, landing with the Cavs on a pair of 10-day contracts. He played well in nine games and one start for Cleveland with a 49.1 field goal percentage and averaged 8.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 triples in 19.6 minutes. Still, he couldn’t find a long-term landing spot and continued to bounce around the league.

This Year: Payne had some solid games in Summer League with Dallas, which was enough to earn a deal from the Raptors. He’ll sit third on the depth chart and isn’t a lock to be in the rotation when everyone’s at full strength -- more of a Jeremy Lin situation than a Delon Wright one.

Injury History: Payne’s got multiple foot fractures under his belt and was shut down with right foot soreness in 2016-17, though last season he only missed time with a calf issue.

Outlook: Payne will try to hold down the third-PG spot for the Raptors but it’s going to take an injury to get him anywhere near the fantasy radar.

Malcolm Miller, SF

Total Value: 460 / 451 (8/9-cat)

Per-Game Value: 459 / 441 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 10

2018-19 Review: Miller was on track to make the roster this year before suffering a torn right labrum in Summer League. The organization likes his game (he made starts for the big club in 2017-18) and kept him around, eventually signing him to a two-year deal when their trade deadline moves required some signings to hit the roster minimum.

This Year: While Miller will still need to survive the guarantee date on his contract, he seems likely to make it given the way the team has groomed his 3-and-D game and the resources they’ve invested in his development already. He’ll be competing for minutes with guys like Stanley Johnson and Patrick McCaw, and his shooting is probably the only path to the top.

Injury History: Miller tore the right labrum in his shoulder in a nasty fall at Summer League in 2018. He also underwent right ankle surgery in July of 2017.

Outlook: Should he end up in the rotation, Miller might be able to crack the top-300 if his shots drop. He’s a weak fantasy target.

Dewan Hernandez (R), C

2018-19 Review: Hernandez sat out last season thanks to some stupid NCAA eligibility ruling. You may remember him as Dewan Huell, as he changed his last name to honor his mother. The last time Hernandez took the floor he averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 57.8 percent in 25.8 mpg as a Miami Hurricane. He’s an extremely fluid athlete for a 7’1" center and looked good in the open floor at Summer League.

This Year: Hernandez is going to do a lot of work with Raptors 905 this season and shouldn’t be expected to impact the Toronto rotation at all.

Injury History: Hernandez/Huell were both clear on the injury front.

Outlook: Hernandez isn’t on the fantasy radar in any format.

*Originally published August, 23, 2019