Toronto Raptors NBA Summer League Takeaways
· Yahoo Sports
The Toronto Raptors came up short to the Denver Nuggets, 96-89, in their consolation matchup on Sunday to wrap up NBA Summer League Play 3-2 overall.
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Although the result was not what Toronto may have wanted, many of their newest additions showed genuine potential.
Allen Graves
The 19-year-old forward was on a roll since the Raptors' opener against the Boston Celtics on July 10, scoring a team-best 22 points while going 9-for-16 from the field and recording 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
He led the charge as well against the Miami Heat six days later, scoring 23 points while shooting 50% from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Moreover, Graves was a force in other facets of the game, collecting six rebounds and one steal while also tallying four assists and two blocks.
Even though Graves would not see any minutes against Denver, he has demonstrated that he can rise into the all-around contributor that general manager Bobby Webster drafted him to become.
Seth Lundy
The former second-round draft pick out of Penn State had an exceptional Summer League debut in his own right, scoring 16 points and going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Additionally, Lundy recorded six rebounds and one steal against an impressive Celtics offense led by Amari Williams and Hugo González.
He also had multiple games in which he outscored Graves, recording over 20 points in two matchups. Most notably, he recorded 23 points against Houston while going 6-for-9 from downtown and collecting five rebounds and one steal.
Lundy didn't get any playing time either on Sunday, but his performance in the past four games has been a testament to his viability in a backup role whether it be with Toronto or another squad.
Nate Bittle
While the 7-footer out of Oregon hasn't had the flashiest numbers on offense, he excels in rebounding and defense. Even in the team's loss to Boston, Bittle had his best night yet, collecting 10 rebounds while making six blocks and tallying three assists.
He then had his lone double-digit scoring game against the Heat, recording 13 points while logging seven boards, three assists, three blocks and one steal. His Duck days also serve as another reminder of what the young center can bring. During Oregon's matchup with Northwestern on Feb. 28, Bittle logged 19 points while recording nine rebounds, three assists and one steal.
With Toronto looking to add youth to their center position, Bittle could provide the extra length that the Raptors are looking for as they have their sights set on a return to Eastern Conference contention.
Jamarion Sharp
As a former NBA G-League Defensive Player of the Year, Sharp showed exactly why he deserved the award so far in limited action with the Raptors. Against Boston, he logged seven rebounds while collecting three steals and making four blocks.
Furthermore, Sharp had his best offensive performance against the Rockets, scoring 17 points while going 5-for-5 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free throw line. He also logged seven boards and made two blocks.
Like Bittle, Sharp could also enhance the Raptors' center depth while bringing the size and agility that can slow down opposing players on the court.
Closing Thoughts
Even as Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley are still set to receive the bulk of the workload in the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, Webster may have given head coach Darko Rajaković the optimal reinforcements he needs to give his starting core a breather.
Moreover, Graves and Bittle have shown signs of providing excellent value in the scoring, rebounding and defensive ends.