The trade that sent Precious Achiuwa to New York along with OG Anunoby and Malachi Flynn has left the Raptors somewhat thin in the frontcourt behind Jakob Poeltl, observes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. As a result, two-way big man Jontay Porter got a chance to play in Wednesday’s victory over Memphis, appearing in an NBA game for the first time since May of 2021.
While Porter missed both of his field goal attempts and had a pair of fouls in his seven minutes of action, he also grabbed three rebounds and looked “poised and smart and comfortable” on defense, writes Grange.
In an in-depth look at Porter’s journey to his current spot on the Raptors’ roster, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca notes that the former Missouri standout was considering walking away from basketball in 2022 after a series of knee injuries – including multiple ACL and MCL tears – derailed his career. But older brother Michael Porter Jr. helped convince him to stick with it and nearly two years later, Jontay is in position to potentially claim a regular role in Toronto.
“I think he’s a rotational big in this league, if not for injuries that kind of slowed down his development,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who also coached Jontay as an assistant with the Grizzlies. “His basketball IQ is very high. He can shoot the ball. He’s a very willing passer as well. I think he’s going to be a really good fit for us — for (the Raptors) 905, but also when opportunities present itself to see him play on the big stage with us as well. I’ve got a ton of respect for him, knowing what he was going through.”
According to Murphy, Porter said he was feeling “a lot of emotions” when he took the court in an NBA game on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 32 months and that his mentality was essentially just “don’t mess up.”
“Hopefully, I get to build on this, but if not, regardless, I’ll take what I learned here and go back to 905 and do my thing there,” he said. “Regardless of what happens, I’m blessed to be in Toronto, and that’s the bottom line.”
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- New starting point guard Immanuel Quickley continued to impress in his second game as a Raptor, scoring a team-high 26 points in the victory over the Grizzlies. Quickley said after the game that a message from Rajakovic after he missed his first four shots helped kick-start his big night, as Aaron Rose of SI.com relays. “He pulled me aside while the game was going on and said, ‘You’re not having fun. Have fun,'” Quickley said. “I’ve never really had a coach do that. He told me that. Then I started skipping.”
- Veteran guard Cory Joseph, one of seven Canadians who had played for the Raptors prior to this season, tells Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca that he believes RJ Barrett will “flourish” as the eighth member of that group. “He’s going to have some of the best years of his life coming up,” Joseph said. “They were for me. It’s what you dream of as a kid, playing in your hometown.”
- Eric Koreen of The Athletic addresses a wide range of topics in his latest mailbag, including why team president Masai Ujiri‘s job remains very safe despite some roster missteps in recent years and whether it’s too early to be concerned about lottery pick Gradey Dick.
- Raptors wing Gary Trent Jr. hasn’t missed a game since November 15, but he’s been added to the injury report for Friday’s game in Sacramento due to a left quad contusion, tweets Lewenberg. Trent is listed as questionable to play.
Looking more and more like Raps got fleeced in that exchange. At least they’ve got a guy with defensive “poise”. So does my sister with her Poise brand maxipads lmao
And how many more years we gonna wait for RJ to be good?
bro porter is a two-way and wasn’t in that deal…. quickley scored 26 in his second game and RJ has been 14 plus and playing hard on d in both games as the 4th option and your takeaway was they got fleeced?
You guys don’t know Lil man…….
He thinks he’s a comedian. Doesn’t care about balling. He’s comedy relief.
Just we laugh at him not with him ……
They got fleeced cause you’re a hater? New year, same lack of originality.
When your comeback is aimed at me being a “hater” and not basketball…not really doing yourself any favors champ. No wonder Nick Nurse was over this fanbase.
You’re weak minded. Your views hold no merit.
Another non-basketball reply. You’re just making my case stronger lol
You are 80% condescending and 20% basketball talk. Who gives a dog poo about your case being stronger? Raptors got 2 more offensive weapons with balanced defense. RJ plays hard as does Quickly. OG is mid vs better teams. See how he only had 11 vs sixers, yea knicks beat the process team but still. Both Quickly and Barrett can go off for 30+, OG barely does. And you have to hope he stays in NYK, I don’t care if his agent is the son of the knicks GM. Only strong thing about your case is you a hurt dog that has to holler
One thing I can say for sure about the Quickley trade, is that TOR did not get fleeced.
RJ’s development curve has certainly been flatter than was expected when he was drafted, but he was only the second best piece going back to TOR (whether they know it or not). As that, how good does he have to be? His outside shot may still be one of ugliest in the game, but it hasn’t prevented him from being a starter and the 3rd option on two playoff teams, and he’s still just 23.
TOR did well for themselves by asking for two assets that could be more valuable to them than they currently were to the NYK. That’s what intelligent trading is supposed to be about. Not fleecing the other guy. Although that’s fun too.
You know how these dudes are. They hate raps but can’t resist lurking on a raptors topic. No wonder they are ridden with depression and anxiety…lol
Getting the Pistons’ second rounder is also a nice piece of business here by Toronto — which would currently be the No. 31 overall pick as the first selection of the second round.
Which comes with no guarantees like 1st rd picks do.
This is the value of a high 2nd rd pick. Let’s team control the player better. And saves millions of dollars. Its value of 1st rd pick. Without the financial obligation .
Very valuable ……..
Once again I have to explain it here. For rct to understand……..’rct got criticism and hate. But can’t get knowledge on his own. Rather spread hate …….
You welcome rct ……. AGAIN
What in the world are you talking about? I’m the one who told *you* several days ago that the Pistons 2nd rounder will be the 31st overall and that it had some value.
Aren’t you supposed to be arguing that the Knicks won the trade? You are a buffoon.
No your response was. It’s a second rd pick not worth much.
In response to me saying it was a valuable pick. So what are you talking about.
rct
January 4, 2024
IQ already is better than RJ. Get a clue. And the pick will be like the 31st overall. There’s not a lot of value in that.
And you’re an A ole that needs attention. The day you get me. Will be the first time you learn real value. You want to get in my business act like a man.
I said day one it was even trade that can swing Raptors way. I Still believe it.
Why would I argue untrue wisdom. I’m not YOU………
.
And I’m still waiting for an explanation of how we are worse now ….. waiting
link to youtu.be
Have fun…
With Thibs?
ICE ICE ICE!!!!
See this rct crowd here.
He’s in his fourth yr. FOUR
Here wait let me take my Gradey out your Ear
How long have you been waiting to make that Gradey comment?
Four years?
Gradey Dick is a huge whiff.