After not cracking the Toronto rotation for the club’s first 20 games, fifth-year Raptors reserve swingman DeAndre’ Bembry has finally managed to etch out consistent minutes lately, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Bembry is a new addition to the team this year, having inked a partially-guaranteed two-year, $3.7MM veteran’s minimum contract during the offseason.
Bembry credits intense Raptors practices with keeping him engaged even when he wasn’t logging significant time on the court. “That pretty much just keeps me going,” Bembry said. “[G]oing against some of the other guys that’s not playing, we would play one-on-ones, two-on-twos, even fives against each other.” Bembry is currently averaging 8.9 MPG across 12 contests, though his minutes tally per game has been increasing lately.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets have sent two-way forward Reggie Perry to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, ahead of the start of the NBAGL’s 2021 season, per a tweet from the G League club. The season is set to tip off in an Orlando “bubble” campus next week.
- Raptors rookie point guard Malachi Flynn will have plenty of in-game opportunity to finesse his game while with the Raptors 905 in the NBA G League Orlando bubble this season, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
- During a conversation with Boston morning radio show Toucher and Rich on 98.5 FM The Sports Hub, Celtics team president Danny Ainge indicated that the team will probably look to use a chunk of its $28.5MM traded player exception around the NBA trade deadline, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link). Referring to the March 25 deadline as the sweet spot for using that TPE, Ainge noted that the C’s would like to add “shooting with size.”
Nets must be confident of acquiring a center through trade or buy out to send Perry away. If Jordan or Green get hurts, KD would have to play good minutes at center.
Agreed. Seems like an odd choice to send to the G given their current roster
They may like what they see in Pelle and/or Claxton is close to returning. I think they’re waiting for buyouts to fill the last roster spot with another big.
Boston needs some defense…. can close games
Shooting with size Danny??
Either the reports about Ainge turning down Turner for Hayward were completely off base or he REALLY doesn’t like Turner
Danny such a bs talker he won’t do anything at the trade deadline and he’ll use the same stupid excuse there was “nothing out there” NO it’s because no one wants the crap players you picked this team could be in for some big changes this offseason starting with him and sorry Brad Stevens because he clearly can’t run a bench
Too true, too true!!!
Totally agree because Ainge also said “or we might wait because there could be a better player later”. WTF? I honestly think he has some weird anxiety about pulling the trigger because it’s like when he tried to justify holding onto all his draft picks and none panned out so now he has a bench full of young mis-match bodies for the second year in a row.
None panned out. Brown and Tatum and Smart are Top 50 players. It has been a few years since Danny wiffed. He is probably the 6th best drafter and no 2 trader I the league.
Yeah I’m obviously talking about the 8 picks since Tatum in 2017. You’re right he’s wicked good when picking in the top 3 but there are many articles written about how unlike other teams Ainge has little success outside the top 6 (being generous and giving him Marcus Smart) yet he refused to deal his picks, admitted his bench was too inexperienced last year, then drafted 3 more players in 2020.
I have always thought, and still do, that Bembry is a 2nd unit guy, and he needs the right situation. Tons of role players fit this mold. I see him as a Thabo Sefolosha type guy in his prime.
I’d like to see him with the Nets. I don’t know how many offensive black holes like Bowen that offense can withstand, but I’d like to find out.
(28.5 mill) You know who fits in that TE in Boston
LaMarcus Aldridge or Al Horford
I think McGee is a lot cheaper and works too.
Thats what I thought of rignt away. Could also be Bjelica?