Toronto Raptors Summer League 2022 – 5 Players to Watch

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The Toronto Raptors summer league 2022 is just about to start in Las Vegas. Their first game of the season is on Saturday July 9, 2022. This year’s roster has some intriguing story lines. Actually everything currently happening (KD?) is pretty exciting! But’s let’s look at five players that could affect the Toronto Raptors future.

Toronto Raptors Summer League 2022, Can Christian Koloko Get Regular Rotational Minutes?

The Raptors’ 2nd round pick is considered one of the steals of this 2022 draft. Christian Koloko, the Junior from Arizona was PAC 12 defensive player of the year. The seven foot one center from Cameroon is an elite shot blocker with his over seven foot five wing span. He is also very agile and can guard on the perimeter in certain situations besides providing drop back coverage and rim protection. On offense, he can roll to the rim, dunk put backs with force and has an improving mid range shot. At the NBA combine, it was noted that Koloko in a three point shooting drill went 16 for 25 which is amazing, and shows potential for having a three point shot at some point in his career. Also, his free throw shooting went from 35 percent in his rookie year to over 73 percent in his junior year. Can you say impressive, young man?

How raw a player is he? And how fast can he learn and improve? If Koloko plays well in summer league, he might potentially be looking at regular rotation minutes on the big squad, which will be a huge benefit for the Raps, as they are sorely in need of rim protection and he could provide it. Will he do it? He might surprise us and I personally cannot wait to watch him!

Toronto Raptors Summer League 2022, Will Dalano Banton be Ready to Be the Back Up Point Guard?

Many were surprised when the Toronto Raptors selected Dalano Banton with one of their 2nd round draft picks in last year’s draft. However, Banton surprised everyone by staying with the main club for most of the year. His six foot eight inch frame makes him a nightmare match up for any point guard as he has the size and skill to make the right pass. He also plays at a fast pace and pushes the ball which is something the Raptors love to do. However, teams quickly figured him out and he started to struggle. Teams dared him to shoot the outside shot and he struggled. He only shot just over 25 percent from three point range for the year. He also struggled to defend quicker guards and his free throw shooting was only 59 percent.

However, when Dalano Banton was sent down to the G league last year, he dominated. If you look at his stats from the G League website he averaged 24.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists on over 39 percent three point shooting. The key for him is if he can translate his G League performance to the NBA. This year’s summer league might give us a good indication. If he can, then the Raptors will have their back up point guard to Fred Van Fleet and the Raptors’ bench will have just gotten a lot stronger.

Can Justin Champagnie Grab a one of the Final Spots on the Team and Get a Guaranteed Contract?

Justin Champagnie surprised many with his play last year after going undrafted in the 2021 draft. The six foot six guard played with energy and had a knack of rebounding the basketball. He only played in a handful of games as he was on a two-way contract. However, in the G League last year, he posted good numbers. He averaged 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and shot over 40 percent from the three point line. Based on that performance, he almost got a guaranteed contract from the Raptors just before the end of the season.

This years summer league will be a good opportunity for Justin to show even more progress. If he shows enough during these games, he might get his guaranteed contact and spot on the main squad.

Can DJ Wilson Show Enough to be Brought into Training Camp and Beyond?

DJ Wilson has had his share of set backs in trying to show his skills to the Toronto Raptors. When he had his first 10 day contact last year, delays caused him to only play in the second half of his first game with the Raptors. He later caught COVID and that was that. He then was on another 10 day contact with the Raps and then injured his knee, and his time with the Raptors ended. However, during his short stint, the six foot 10 inch forward showed the Raptors that he can defend hard (he made Embiid work hard on offense), handle the ball and is a smart and willing passer. His G League stats support this as he averaged 19.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists on 55.1 percent shooting while shooting 33.9 percent from three.

Can he show the versatility he brings in these summer league games? The raptors still need a depth big man in the rotation that can rebound, defend and supply some offensive punch if needed. Even though DJ Wilson is 26 years old and an older player but he’s still young enough to grow. If he plays well, the Raptors will invite him to training camp to battle for one of the last spots on the team. I am looking forward to seeing what he can do!

The Wildcard – Can Ron Harper Jr Shock everyone and Make the Squad?

If the name sounds familiar, you probably remember his dad – the original Ron Harper – who was a 5-time NBA champion on those famous Chicago Bulls teams. His son Ron Jr. played four years at Rutgers University and carved out a nice four year career there. However, he went undrafted and the Raptors immediately picked him up and signed him to a two way contract. If you look at his stats from Rutgers, he improved every year. In his senior year he averaged 15.8 points, and 5.9 rebounds while shooting almost 40 percent from three (espn stats). Why didn’t he get drafted? Partly because this draft was a wing heavy draft with a lot of upside prospects. Also, some were worried that he might be finished product due to his age. And some worried about his athleticism as he carries about 245 pounds on a six foot five frame, and his body fat was higher then most prospects.

However, if you watch his highlights, there is an awful lot to like. First he can shoot the three and he is not afraid to shoot. He loves having the ball in his hand in clutch moments. Second – he is very crafty and can get to his spots and the rim. He is not the fastest player by any means, but he has a lot of moves and can shift his body in ways to give him an advantage. Third he can post and play bully ball if needed. His size gives him that advantage and he can use it well. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and he has even a bigger one now with not getting drafted.

Ron Harper Jr. has an advanced game compared to most basketball players in his class. Actually his game is more advanced then many who are on the Raptors right now. If he can harness that aforementioned chip on his shoulder and show in summer league that his game translates to the NBA then look out. You might have another Fred Van Fleet diamond in the rough story, and he might put himself in a position to make the big squad.

Conclusion

Summer league will start in a few days for the Toronto Raptors. There are a lot of intriguing story lines, and a number of fascinating players to watch out for. By the end of it, we are going to know a lot more about what the Toronto Raptors will do regarding their roster. So enjoy the next week or so of summer league basketball. It’s going to be fun!