Training Camp tipped off for the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City on Tuesday. Here are three things that happened that you need to know about.
#1 Kawhi Leonard did not participate in live scrimmage, but is “locked in”
Leonard dawned the black and white OVO practice jerseys for the first time, but he and Alijah Martin were the only players who didn’t take part in the live scrimmage portion of practice on day 1. Darko Rajakovic said that Leonard was “locked in” and is healthy, but he had not been able to play live while the trade was on pause. Nate Bittle and Andre Jackson also didn’t participate for practice because of injuries.
“We’re just going to be smart about it,” Rajakovic told the media on Tuesday. “Obviously he missed time being around our team, so he needs time to ramp up and get ready.”
#2 Collin Murray-Boyles continues to show off he’s a lean, mean, fighting machine
If you have been watching CMB’s social media this past summer, you will have seen that he’s taken up running as a hobby! He spoke to the media on Tuesday about how it’s helped shape his body:
“With running I lost a lot of body fat. So I can feel the explosiveness more. Just feel more bouncy, more energetic,” CMB said.
He also has been working on his three-point shot in preparation for playing alongside Jakob Poeltl more this season. “Just getting a ton of reps. That was the biggest thing: to get confidence. My shot wasn’t broken, I just didn’t shoot.”
#3 RJ Barrett still wants to be here
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: RJ Barrett wants to stay a Toronto Raptor. One of the prevailing storylines of the start of the season has been Barrett’s pending contract negotations and he has continue to reiterate how much it means to him to be at home.
“A lot of times, players get too upset about it. They still got to pay me a lot of money this year anyways,” Barrett said. “I’ve got a good agent, he’ll handle it.”
“I’m still trying to be here. And at the end of the day, if it’s here or somewhere else, nothing else will compare to being here and playing here.”
Barrett is heading into the final year of his contract, worth just a bit over $29.5M. Of course, he’s earned himself an extension, playing some of the best basketball of his career since arriving in Toronto, but given the Raptors precarious cap situation, it seems unlikely that the two sides will reach an agreement before next summer.
According to a report by Michael Grange of Sportsnet, Barrett and his agent, Bill Duffy, have yet to broach a contract discussion with the Raptors, but there seems to be an appetite on both sides to work something out.
