Raptors trim roster ahead of season opener

With the 2019-20 regular season quickly approaching, the Toronto Raptors have whittled their roster down to 17 after waiving Cameron Payne, Devin Robinson, and Matt Morgan.

While these three players won’t be with the big club, there’s a chance that some or all of them will still don the red and white with Raptors 905.

The reigning NBA champions now have two more cuts to make to solidify a 15-player roster. The team also holds two vacant two-way slots. It is expected that Chris Boucher and Dewan Hernandez will join the 12 players already guaranteed roster spots, while Malcolm Miller and Isaiah Taylor contend for the final opening. Oshae Brissett is projected to secure one of the two-way deals.

While splitting time with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers last season, Payne averaged 6.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 17.8 minutes in 40 games.

Robinson averaged 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 13.6 minutes in seven games as a member of the Washington Wizards last season – the only NBA games he’s played in his career. The six-foot-eight, 24-year-old averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 34.4 minutes in 22 G League games in 2018-19.

A star at Cornell University, Morgan averaged 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the 114 games of his four-season collegiate career. The shooting guard signed with the Raptors on Thursday, but averaged just 4.3 points, two rebounds, and one assist in four Summer League matches.

Toronto opens its 2019-20 campaign Tuesday when it plays host to the New Orleans Pelicans.

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