Report: Raptors cut Alize Johnson, Henry Ellenson and Oshae Brissett

With their three preseason games in the books and the regular season just a few days away, the Toronto Raptors have reduced their roster to 15 players plus two two-way players.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Blake Murphy, the Raptors are cutting Henry Ellenson, Alize Johnson and Oshae Brissett.

If we combine this news with a report from last night, courtesy Friend of HQ Kelsea O’Brien, it looks like Paul Watson will replace Brissett on the 15-man roster, leaving one two-way spot open:

We’ll assume, then, that the remaining two-way spot will go to Yuta Watanabe, who’s shown some nice flashes in pre-season action. Thus, your 2020-21 Toronto Raptors roster looks like so:

• Kyle Lowry
• Pascal Siakam
• Fred VanVleet
• OG Anunoby
• Norman Powell
• Chris Boucher
• Terence Davis
• Matt Thomas
• Patrick McCaw
• Stanley Johnson
• Aron Baynes
• Alex Len
• DeAndre’ Bembry
• Malachi Flynn
• Paul Watson Jr.
• Jalen Harris (two-way)
• Yuta Watanabe (two-way)

It’s a bummer to see Brissett, a local guy, leave the team; his summer knee surgery seems to have set him back quite a ways. It’s a double-blow, too, because, since he signed a standard contract with the Raptors, he’s not eligible to be signed by Raptors 905. (His $300,000 contract was guaranteed, though, so at least he’s got that!)

Ellenson and Johnson, on the other hand, are eligible to stick around with the 905. I'm not sure about Ellenson — though he impressed last year in the G League, he’s yet to prove he can keep up at the NBA level. Johnson, though, is someone I’d bet the Raptors will keep around, if they can; his energy and effort is appealing, and the Raptors development team can surely help mold the more raw aspects of his game.

We still don’t know exactly what the 2021 G League season will look like, but we’ll keep you posted as we hear more.