{"id":86949,"date":"2024-07-23T10:59:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T14:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=86949"},"modified":"2024-07-23T10:59:16","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T14:59:16","slug":"raptors-resolve-unique-sasha-vezenkov-situation-with-roster-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/23\/raptors-resolve-unique-sasha-vezenkov-situation-with-roster-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Raptors Resolve Unique Situation With Roster Move"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Raptors have waived forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vezenal01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sasha Vezenkov<\/a>, according to Sportsnet\u2019s Blake Murphy. This clears the way for Vezenkov to join Olympiacos on a five-year deal <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/14\/raptors-president-addresses-awkward-sasha-vezenkov-saga\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">that he\u2019d already agreed to<\/a>, but couldn\u2019t technically complete as he was still under contract with the Raptors. Per Murphy, Toronto will also waive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/freemja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Javon Freeman-Liberty<\/a>, a 2023 Summer League standout.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Vezenkov is leaving the entire $6,658,536 on the table in the buyout, per a source.<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors pay $0. He has no cap hit any longer.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BlakeMurphyODC\/status\/1815465672496832722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In doing so, the former EuroLeague MVP forfeited the two remaining years on his contract. As Vezenkov had a team option on his contract for 2025-26, he could have made $13.6 million through 2026. Now, he\u2019ll head back home to Europe with a clearer conscious but a much lighter wallet.<\/p>\n<h2>Raptors Resolve Unique Situation With Roster Move<\/h2>\n<p>This move isn\u2019t exactly a win for the Raptors.<\/p>\n<p>Vezenkov\u2019s outside shooting could have benefited a team that ranked 27th in 3-point percentage (.347) last season. Toronto also ranked 22nd in 3-point attempts (33.1). Without becoming a better positional defender, Vezenkov may not have received a massive amount of playing time. Nonetheless, in the time that he was on the court, he could\u2019ve been a game-changer.<\/p>\n<p>Still, in acquiring Vezenkov, they also traded for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Davion Mitchell<\/a>, 2024 No. 45 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sheadja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamal Shead<\/a> and a 2025 second-round pick.<\/p>\n<p>Shead has a knack for disruptive defense, while Mitchell has developed a reputation as an on-ball bloodhound. Earning the nickname \u2018Off-Night\u2019 with his suffocating ball pressure, his defensive impact is an x-factor for Toronto. In fact, because the Raptors\u2019 biggest issue last season was arguably their perimeter defense, he could pushed for a starting spot. Playing alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/q\/quickim01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Immanuel Quickley<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barrerj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RJ Barrett<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barnesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Barnes<\/a>, Mitchell\u2019s defense may be the missing piece.<\/p>\n<p>With two roster spots now open, Toronto also has an opportunity to address two specific problem areas.<\/p>\n<h3>Now Hiring 3-and-D Wings<\/h3>\n<p>Again, the Raptors\u2019 offense would be enhanced by adding an above-average 3-point threat. Said player would ideally be a forward or wing with athleticism that gives him more defensive upside than 2023 No. 13 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dickgr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gradey Dick<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Among the available free agents, 25-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/u\/umudest01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stanley Umude<\/a> would be a suitable option. A tenacious defender at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Umude made 45.3 percent of his 3s with the Detroit Pistons last season.<\/p>\n<p>However, veteran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/walkelo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lonnie Walker IV<\/a> may be a better option. Walker has less size than Umude at 6-foot-4. Yet, he has a larger and more consistent body of work, shooting at least 36.5 percent from 3 in four of his six career seasons.<\/p>\n<h3>Getting To The Point<\/h3>\n<p>Toronto could also stand to add a true point guard. Though the Raptors have several players who excel with the ball in their hands, only Barnes is a natural floor general. Quickley is more focused on scoring. Mitchell\u2019s strengths are at the defensive end. Bruce Brown is more of a connector than initiator and manipulator.<\/p>\n<p>The best point guard available is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jonesty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyus Jones<\/a>, who may be in the same situation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/oubreke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kelly Oubre Jr.<\/a> was in last offseason. Though he\u2019s a talented player, he wasn\u2019t prioritized, and team\u2019s money has dried up. Now, unless they execute a sign-and-trade with the Washington Wizards that involves Brown or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bouchch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Boucher<\/a>, he\u2019ll likely have to sign a deal below his free market value just to keep his money and momentum flowing.<\/p>\n<p>If Jones is signed, his playmaking will allow him to run the show in Toronto, generating easy points for Quickley, Barrett, Barnes and others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Raptors have waived forward Sasha Vezenkov, according to Sportsnet\u2019s Blake Murphy. This clears the way for Vezenkov to join Olympiacos on a five-year deal that he\u2019d already agreed to, but couldn\u2019t technically complete as he was still under contract with the Raptors. Per Murphy, Toronto will also waive Javon Freeman-Liberty, a 2023 Summer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":87025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,1608,62,3],"tags":[4269,4011,4652,297,49057,4351,569],"class_list":["post-86949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raptors","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","tag-davion-mitchell","tag-javon-freeman-liberty","tag-lonnie-walker-iv","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-sasha-vezenkov","tag-stanley-umude","tag-tyus-jones"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}