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According to more and different reports (not like these ones here we just wrote about), the Raptors are set on adding Kay Felder to the team on a one-year, partially guaranteed deal. I could go on, but just read the following from Sam Amick, noted USA Today NBA insider:
The Raptors have made a late summer addition, I'm told, adding Kay Felder on a one-year, partially guaranteed deal. The 23-year-old point guard will compete in camp for Toronto's 15th roster spot.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 21, 2018
As is annual tradition, Toronto is snagging a bevy of players to bring their roster up to the training camp maximum of 20. Before signing veteran Greg Monroe, the Raptors went out and nabbed Jordan Loyd (on a two-way deal), brought in Chris Boucher, and locked in Lorenzo Brown on another one-year deal. That brings the whole squad up to 17 players, with Loyd, Boucher (assuming he makes the cut), and Brown set to vacillate between the big club and the Raptors 905 G League squad.
For his part, Felder brings at least one thing to Toronto: speed. At 23 years of age, 5’9” in height, and a svelte 176 pounds, Felder’s quickness is the most noticeable thing about him. (The second most noticeable thing, if we’re being unkind, is his height.) In two seasons, Felder has put up career averages of 3.8 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 rebounds, while shooting 36 percent from the field, 27 percent from three, and 75 percent from the free throw line. Like I said, he’s quite fast.
Felder appeared in 16 games last season, 14 with the Bulls, two with Detroit. Prior to that, after being drafted 54th overall in the 2016 Draft by the Atlanta Hawks and sold to the Cavaliers, he played in 46 games in his 2016-17 rookie season in Cleveland.
For the Raptors, one supposes this is a move for a little more guard depth on the training camp roster (behind Kyle Lowry, Delon Wright, Fred VanVleet, and Lorenzo Brown, apparently), and as a way of locking down some NBA-adjace talent in the short term. Worst comes to worst, the Raptors don’t keep him on the roster and Felder opts to stick around in Mississauga for the 905. Keep in mind: Kay is lightning fast, folks.
Remember: as is also part of the annual tradition, this late-summer, pre-training camp additions tend not to last long in Toronto. Watch for the Raptors to sign three more dudes before the end of September, but don’t get too attached or up in arms.
Update: It’s official.
.@Raptors have signed Kay Felder #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/6jIXwe3Itg
— RaptorsMR (@RaptorsMR) August 21, 2018