Raptors 905 select Kethan Savage and 3 others in 2017 G-League Draft

The 2017 G-League Draft took place on Saturday, and the Raptors 905 were of course involved. The organization had five picks, but only three were mandatory selections. The 905 ended up selecting four players in the draft, which was apparently not a good one. As one G-League executive was quoted as saying: “It is terrible.”

Here is a summary of the 905’s draftees.

Round 1 - Pick 26: Kethan Savage, G, Butler

The 905 started the draft off with the last pick in the first round and used it to select Kethan Savage, a guard who played for George Washington and Butler.

At George Washington, Savage averaged 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 25.4% from three. Following those three years, Savage transferred to Butler and sat out the 2015-16 season. But last season at Butler, Savage averaged 20.4 minutes per game while chipping in with 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 44.3% from the field and 29.2% from three.

Savage is considered a shooting guard but will need to improve his shooting if he is going to make a serious case of making this 905 roster. Given that the 905 only have Negus Webster-Chan, Davion Berry and two-way player Lorenzo Brown as the guards on the roster, there’s a good chance he makes it regardless.

Round 2 - Pick 52: Liam McMorrow, C, Tennessee Tech

The Raptors 905 used their second pick on a homegrown player. McMorrow was raised in Toronto and even played college ball at Durham College in Oshawa for a year. After a season there, McMorrow transferred to Marquette but it didn’t work out and he ultimately ended up at Tennessee Tech.

At Tennessee Tech, McMorrow averaged 12.2 minutes per game while adding 3.6 points, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 57.9% from the field. Following his college career, McMorrow spent time overseas and had a quick stint in the D-League with the Iowa Energy.

The 30-year-old 7’2” centre will have to show a lot in order to make the 905 roster, as Edy Tavares and Kennedy Meeks are already in place. In the guard-heavy G-League, carrying three centres may prove to be unrealistic.

Round 3 - Pick 73: Eric Washington, G, Miami (OH)

The 905 used their third round pick on a point guard who went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and then spent last season overseas in Cyprus. Washington also playede two years at Miami (OH) after transferring there from Presbyterian.

At Miami, Washington was the starting point guard, playing 61 of 62 games while averaging 32.7 minutes per game. Washington chipped in with 14.1 points, along with 5.1 assists, while shooting 44.5% from the field and 35.2% from three.

Now with the 905, Washington will be in a camp competition, and if he makes it will give the 905 some point guard depth behind Lorenzo Brown.

Round 3 - Pick 78: Jamaal Brantley, SF, Cameron (TX)

Like J.T. Terrell a season ago, we don’t even know if Brantley played professional basketball last year. After college at Cameron University, Brantley went almost invisible for a year. Still, at Cameron University, Brantley averaged 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists over two seasons.

It appears that Brantley will be a long shot to make the roster this season, but will have training camp and two preseason games to show his worth.

The Raptors 905 decided not to select anyone with their fourth-round selection.

Trade: 905 acquire Aaron Best from the Long Island Nets in exchange for returning rights for Shannon Scott.

Best played his college ball at Ryerson and was at the local tryouts. The 905 thought high enough of him to acquire him on draft day. The guard should have a good shot at making the 905 roster, adding another Canadian.

In other news, Kyle Wiltjer will also join the 905 as an affiliate player, as reported by Blake Murphy. Murphy (more machine than man) also reports that the 905 will bring Kaza Keane (from Carleton), Richard Armadi, Andre Washington, and Roger Moute a Bidias as the local tryout players.

Armadi spent time last year in the NBL with Niagara after finishing his college career with Oregon, Moute a Bidias is Luc Mbah a Moute’s brother, and Washington is a 7’1” centre out of Wake Forest.

The 905 open training camp on Monday. Here’s the training camp roster.

PG: Lorenzo Brown, Eric Washington, Kaza Keane
SG: Davion Berry, Negus Webster-Chan, Kethan Savage, Aaron Best
SF: Malcolm Miller, Jamaal Brantley
PF: Kyle Wiltjer, Richard Armadi
C: Edy Tavares, Kennedy Meeks, Liam McMorrow, Andre Washington

The 905 can carry ten players including the two two-way players.