New Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri has had a busy offseason reshaping the team. First he rearranged the Raptors’ front office. He followed that up by replacing the coaching staff around Dwayne Casey. Then he made his first big trade, moving Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks. Now, according to reports, he has made his first free agent signing, picking up power forward Tyler Hansbrough, who played last season with the Indiana Pacers.
Hansbrough gives the Raptors a big physical presence in the paint, who can score points and grab rebounds for the team. He can help Amir Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas in playing a big man rotation in Toronto.
Hansbrough averaged 7.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season for the Pacers. He has averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game over his four year NBA career.
The 27-year-old Hansbrough was drafted 13th overall by the Pacers in the 2009 NBA Draft.
The deal is reported to be for 2 years and uses part of the Raptors’ mid level salary cap exemption, but the exact financial terms of the deal are not yet known.
The deal should be made official on Wednesday, when the NBA officially allows free agent signings and trades to go through.
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