A rebuilding team is focused on player development, with a long-term outlook. They’re acquiring more picks, and taking shots on more young players, hoping to develop high-valued pieces and find a gem in the undervalued pieces. The trickle-down effect is that their minor-league affiliate should be a greater focus.
For the Toronto Raptors, that could mean a return to glory for their G League affiliate, Raptors 905.
Once the toast of the G League as a perennial contender, the 905 have now had a few rough seasons in a row. The Raptors’ NBA championship required cashing in a number of picks, and the main NBA roster has regularly experienced trade and injury, thinning out the 905 rosters. With the Raptors now firmly in a rebuild, they’ve committed more picks and roster spots to unearthing the next graduates from a program that boasts the likes of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Delon Wright, Chris Boucher, and more.
New head coach Drew Jones III should have a solid roster to build with, albeit not quite as strong as was anticipated the day the Raptors made their NBA roster cuts. More on that in a second.
The 905 open camp in Mississauga on Monday, with the regular season set to begin Nov. 9. What follows is a look at how the G League roster is constructed, with an explanation of the different contract types involved.
Not at training camp / Not with 905
Before we get to who is there, we have to address two notable absences.
The first is Jared Rhoden. Rhoden was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal to compete for a roster spot in NBA camp, with the idea that if he was cut, he’d earn a bonus for reporting to Raptors 905. Instead, Rhoden was claimed off of waivers by the Hornets and converted to a two-way contract. This outcome isn’t great for the 905, but it’s terrific for the player; having your players called up by other NBA teams is part of life in the G League, and this is a version of that.
(Had Rhoden been called up from the 905 after camp began, the 905 would have jumped to the top of the waiver priority list. As it stands, they’re in the middle of the pack.)
The other absence is Jahmi’us Ramsey, which is a tougher one. Ramsey was in the same situation as Rhoden. He didn’t get claimed or signed, though. Instead, Ramsey opted to return to Oklahoma City’s G League program. By doing so, he will no longer receive the $77,500 bonus he would have gotten for spending 60 days with the 905; he’ll only make the G League salary ($41,500).
The Raptors knew that OKC held Ramsey’s rights. Normally in these cases, teams will play ball and trade player rights for other player rights or future picks, similar to how the 905 traded Justise Winslow’s rights to Milwaukee when the Bucks wanted him for their G League program. In this case, Ramsey’s camp preferred to return to OKC. This will be Ramsey’s fourth partial season in that organization, and he’s yet to get a call-up. It’s an interesting roll of the dice, hoping he’ll make up the $77,500 later with a better path to an NBA opportunity there.
Ja’Kobe Walter will be in camp / Other eligible assignment players (NBA salary)
The Raptors’ first-round pick this summer, Walter is yet to appear in official action due to a sprained AC joint suffered just before training camp. Walter has begun his ramp-up process, and the timing of 905 camp works out well for him – the Raptors play four games in six days this week, with travel, so they’re unlikely to practice much. The 905 doing one or two sessions every day gives Walter ample practice opportunities he wouldn’t have otherwise, and he can still attend home games.
Once healthy, Walter could still see 905 time. The Raptors have room for him in the rotation right now, but if it’s deemed he needs more reps after missing all of camp, or if the Raptors get healthy and he falls to the fringes of the rotation, he’ll be in Mississauga. The team hasn’t hesitated to send first-round picks to the G League for additional development, and Walter will be no different.
Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Dick, and Ochai Agbjai are all eligible for assignment, as well. Shead and Mogbo should see 905 time once the games begin, even if they’re in the mix on the Raptors bench. Plenty of Raptors have done double duty in the past, or alternated between big minutes with the 905 and bench minutes with the Raptors. Dick and Agbaji are unlikely to be assigned, barring injury recovery. Any other player would need to give their permission to be assigned.
These players receive their full NBA salary even when on assignment.
Two-way players (two-way salary, $578,577; up to half guaranteed)
Two-ways are pretty well-established now. Players with fewer than four years in the NBA can sign these deals, allowing them to spend up to 50 games active on the NBA roster and the rest of their time with the G League program.
These players earn half of the NBA minimum salary, regardless of whether they’re in the NBA or the G League. They can’t be signed away by other NBA teams like other G League players can. Teams are free to cut two-ways and sign new ones without any impact to their salary cap or luxury tax, but the “50 games active” doesn’t reset for each new player (it is prorated based on when a player signs). Teams can also convert these players to standard NBA contracts.
Jamison Battle, D.J. Carton and Ulrich Chomche are all on two-way deals with the Raptors.
For now, only Chomche is 905-bound. Chomche is a longer-term project who figures to spend most of the season with the 905. Battle and Carton will see plenty of 905 time, but they’re both in the rotation right now with all of Toronto’s injuries, so their first assignments will come at a later date.
Affiliate players ($41,500 G League salary with up to $77,500 bonus)
Teams can designate up to four players as “affiliate players.” These have to be players whose G League rights aren’t already held by another team, and they are usually, though not always, undrafted rookies. To make a player an affiliate player, the NBA team has to sign and waive them, usually with an Exhibit 10 bonus of up to $77,500.
Branden Carlson, Dylan Disu, and Quincy Guerrier will be joining Raptors 905 as affiliate players.
Carlson was cut from his two-way deal at the end of camp, but because the Raptors only guaranteed $77,500 of that contract, and because he went unclaimed on waivers and unsigned afterward, he was eligible to be made an affiliate player. (He is not eligible to receive a bonus, as he already received that $77,500 on his two-way deal.)
Disu and Guerrier, meanwhile, were signed and waived before training camp after spending the summer in the Raptors system. They’ll both receive $77,500 bonuses if they stick with 905 long enough.
In Disu, the 905 have a 6-foot-9 forward with experience at a pair of major programs, Vanderbilt (under former 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse) and Texas. He showed major shooting growth in a small-ish sample in his final college year, winning Big 12 Most Improved Player. Guerrier is a Canadian who played at Syracuse, Oregon, and Illinois. At 6-foot-8 and with great rebounding instincts, Guerrier should provide a good energy spark, with the potential to grow into more if a small uptick in three-point percentage as a senior can hold up over a larger sample.
As you probably became familiar with in camp, Carlson is a 7-footer who can hit a trail three from the top and offer some rim protection. He’s a bit older as a prospect but should at worst be a very good G League big.
The 905 have kept one affiliate spot unused so that it can be used on an in-season affiliate player if such a situation arises.
These players can be signed away by any NBA team at any time, without compensation for the Raptors or 905. (Unofficially, the Raptors probably have a right of first refusal, as the agent would tell them it’s happening and Toronto could try to respond accordingly.)
Returning rights players ($41,500 G League salary with up to $77,500 bonus)
When a player’s rights are acquired in the G League, the team holds them for up to two years after the player has last played for them. Some players earn NBA chances or opt to go back overseas, or request to have their rights traded to a different G League situation, but there are usually a couple of players who come back each year.
Kevin Obanor and Myles Burns will be back for the 905 this year. Obanor was signed and waived at the end of camp to give him a $60,000 Exhibit 10 bonus for returning, something he earned with a really strong rookie year in the G League. A 6-foot-8 hustle-first player, Obanor at times showed the ability to hit a corner three but drew most of his value on the offensive glass and in transition. Burns did not receive such a bonus, but the team’s first-round pick from the 2023 G League Draft will look to build on a solid campaign where his sky-high steal rate from college translated to the pros.
The 905 also acquired the returning player rights to two players who will be with them in camp.
Kennedy Chandler, like Disu and Guerrier, was signed and waived before camp, securing a $50,000 bonus for him on top of his G League salary. A 5-foot-11 guard with 36 games of NBA experience for the Grizzlies, Chandler grew into a very efficient scorer in the G League last year even without the benefit of many threes, and he makes up for some of the size issues by being a magnet for steals.
Evan Gilyard was acquired in a trade earlier this offseason and will compete for a roster spot in camp. The 5-foot-10 guard struggled in a bench role for the Bulls’ G League affiliate last year but had a strong collegiate career (UTEP, New Mexico State, UMKC) and, like Chandler and Burns, can help force a lot of turnovers to fuel transition play.
These players, and the players in the sections below, can be signed away by any NBA team at any time, without compensation for the Raptors or 905.
Draft picks ($41,500 G League salary)
This year’s G League Draft had some intrigue at the top, with the Knicks maneuvering to secure the top two picks so they could select Matt Ryan and Landry Shamet, getting them ready for eventual NBA call-ups. The rest of the draft was quieter, with most of the top G League names already assigned via some of these other contracts we mentioned. Still, the 905 were active.
With the No. 15 pick, which they acquired in the Winslow deal, the 905 selected Tylor Perry. Perry was with the team at Summer League, and while he didn’t play much, he was well-liked around the team and well-liked coming out of Kansas State (and Coffeyville and North Texas before that; this 905 team loves five-year seniors who went to three schools). Another somewhat undersized guard at 5-foot-11, Perry probably has an inside track on a roster spot but will have to fight off a number of contenders for it in camp. The big edge Perry should have that the others don’t is a track record as a shooter, having hit 41 percent of his threes or better in four of his five college seasons.
The 905 also acquired the No. 39 pick for an international slot pick (which they’ve never used before). They selected Charles Pride, a solid-shooting wing out of Bryant and St. Bonaventure (shout out to Woj) who spent the summer with the Hornets. After the draft, the 905 added undrafted 6-foot-9 forward Vance Jackson Jr., who played at U-Conn, New Mexico, Arkansas, and East Carolina and who has some pro experience in the G League and New Zealand.
Tryout players ($41,500 G League salary)
Teams are allowed to invite a few players to camp as “local tryout” players. That’s a nice framing, and the 905 do, in fact, hold open tryouts, but these players are usually guys the team has asked to try out. That doesn’t mean there’s not a local flavour!
Brampton’s Devonte Bandoo is one of those players this year. A 6-foot-3 guard who was a Baylor teammate of Davion Mitchell, Bandoo was solid in two small G League stints in 2021-22. He was also excellent for Saskatchewan in the CEBL in 2021-22, but he’s played very little pro ball in the seasons since. Tyreke Key, who played for Indiana State and Tennessee and spent last year in Britain for Stella Artois (cheers, bruv) will also look to earn a bench guard spot. Chris Vogt, a 7-foot-1 centre out of Wisconsin (and Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, there’s that trend again) is back from Belgium and will look to add depth and size behind Carlson.
Other rights
The 905 still hold rights on the following players, who are signed elsewhere or injured as noted: Rhoden (Hornets), Devon Dotson (Spain), Marques Bolden (Achilles injury), Deonte Burton (South Korea), Wenyen Gabriel (Israel), Makur Maker (Saudi Arabia), Kobi Simmons (Isratel), Drake Jeffries (Bitain), Jaiden Delaire (Britain), Saben Lee (Turkey).
If any of those players wanted to return to the G League this year, the 905 would have the ability to add them.
Coaching Staff
Jones becomes the sixth coach in 905 history, moving from Darko Rajakovic’s NBA bench to continue his own development and get head coaching experience. He’ll be flanked by new addition Justin Serresse, who was recently coaching Wilfrid Laurier, and returning assistants Arsalan Jamil, Matt Gray, Josh Henderson, and Brandon Leftwich.
Eric Khoury, who coached the 905 the last two years, has moved to Rajakovic’s staff this season.
What’s next
Camp gets underway Monday, with the 905 having to get their roster down to 10 (not including two-ways or assignment players) by Nov. 7. Their season opener is Nov. 9, with a home opener in Mississauga on Nov. 22.
Guards: D.J. Carton (2-way), Kennedy Chandler (Ex. 10), Tylor Perry (draft), Evan Gilyard (rights), Devonte Badoo (tryout), Tyreke Key (tryout)
Wings: Jamison Battle (2-way), Myles Burns (rights), Charles Pride (draft)
Forwards: Ulrich Chomche (2-way), Dylan Disu (affiliate), Quincy Guerrier (Affiliate), Kevin Obanor (Ex. 10), Vance Jackson Jr. (undrafted free agent)
Bigs: Branden Carlson (affiliate), Chris Vogt (tryout)
Assignment eligible: Ja’Kobe Walter (in camp), Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji
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