5 things to know before Toronto Raptors training camp

The Toronto Raptors start their pre-season training camp on Tuesday in Montreal. Here are five things to know about what the Raptors preseason will look like.

NEVER STOPPED – Head coach Darko Rajakovic organized mini camps for his players throughout the summer. Reserve center Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops, British Columbia, said he was looking forward to camp in Spain after finishing with Team Canada at the Paris Olympics. He said it was helpful to continue getting to know his teammates after being traded from the Utah Jazz to Toronto on Feb. 8.

“Looking back on the last year, obviously I got traded at the trade deadline, a lot of moves were made and I ended up getting a bunch of new guys,” Olynyk said Monday. “We played probably six quarters together and then everyone got injured or dropped out or a lot of different things happened where we were never together, never played together, never built any chemistry or continuity.

“That was my reasoning. I had to meet with these guys and start building chemistry, continuity, connection and really start going crazy.”

YOUTH MOVEMENT – Toronto added several promising prospects to its roster during the June 26 and 27 NBA Draft. The Raptors took Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter (19th overall) in the first round. They then added San Francisco forward Jonathan Mogbo (31st), Houston guard Jamal Shead (45th) and NBA Academy Africa center Ulrich Chomche (57th) at second.

“There will be times when these guys will be in the lineup, there will be times when these guys will rotate, maybe start,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “There will also be times when these guys will need to go to Raptors 905 (G-League affiliate) to play games and practices with that team so they can get more reps or develop on certain things that we put in front of them. “

Injured Defenders – While Walter will likely play a big role in Toronto’s future, he will not participate on the court during training camp due to a shoulder injury. The Raptors said Walter sprained his right acromioclavicular joint – where the collarbone connects to the shoulder blade – during informal workouts this week. Experienced striker Bruce Brown will also miss camp after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Last season, Brown averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 26.0 minutes in 34 games (11 starts) for Toronto.

I’M NO LONGER A Rookie – Gradey Dick was selected 13th overall by Toronto in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Raptors’ only rookie last season was saddled with all the difficult and menial tasks that come with being a first-year player last season. The 20-year-old said on Monday that he was looking forward to being free from that burden.

“Technically I’m a newbie to the first game, so I’m not sure yet,” Dick laughed. “My rookie responsibility was always to play cards on the plane, but I could already see in the group chat that now someone else would get them, so it feels amazing.”

PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE – Toronto will play five pre-season games, including one at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors will face the Washington Wizards on October 6 at the Bell Center in Montreal, then face the Wizards in Washington on October 11. They will then play a home series against the Boston Celtics on October 13 and October 1. on Oct. 15, before finishing the preseason with a trip to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Oct. 18.