In past NBA free-agent cycles, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster phoned Kyle Anderson’s agent to gauge his interest in coming to Toronto, but the calls didn’t go anywhere.
asserted
calls → phone → Toronto
“I’m like, ‘Y’all have seven or eight guys that are 6-9 with long arms, where do I fit in here?’” Anderson recalls thinking.
asserted
Anderson → ’m → arms
It didn’t stop Webster from keeping tabs and, amid the noise surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s return to the city, the Raptors made Anderson their first free-agent acquisition of the off-season in July, on a one-year deal worth $3.9 million (U.S.).
asserted
Anderson → stop → deal
He has been a bit of a journeyman over the last year, spending time with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a multi-player deal in February.
asserted
He → spend → February
He eventually reached a buyout there and signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves to end the season.
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He → reach → season
The Raptors are his seventh team since the San Antonio Spurs drafted him 30th in 2014.
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Spurs → draft → 2014
“I think it was just time ... (to) be a part of what (Toronto) had going on,” Anderson told reporters after practice Wednesday.
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Anderson → think → practice
The 33-year-old forward said he has long admired the Raptors’ fan support and often tells friends and family to visit Toronto.
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he → say → Toronto
“Always enjoyed coming here,” Anderson said.
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Anderson → come → ?
“Heavy Jamaican-Chinese population up here, which is pretty cool because that’s where my roots come from (in his mother’s family).”
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roots → ’ → family
Anderson and Leonard spent four years as teammates in San Antonio, and Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was a rising assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies when Anderson played there.
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Anderson → spend → Grizzlies
It’s unclear what his role will be with the Raptors.
uncertain
role → ’ → Raptors
He sat out Saturday’s pre-season opener against the Miami Heat with a right knee contusion, but has been a full participant in practice this week.
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He → sit → practice
Rajakovic told Anderson to be ready to play different positions, potentially power forward or centre.
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Rajakovic → tell → positions
“This is not his first rodeo, this is not his first team,” Rajakovic said about Anderson.
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Rajakovic → say → Anderson
“He’s trying to integrate into the system and to understand his teammates ...
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He → try → teammates
His voice is being heard right away with our team, and our guys have a lot of respect for him.”
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guys → hear → him
Not known for his scoring, Anderson (nicknamed Slo Mo for his methodical pace) averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes per game last season.
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Anderson → know → game
“I think (Rajakovic) knows that I know a few things about the regular season and the post-season,” said Anderson, who has appeared in 76 post-season games.
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who → think → games
“He just wants me to come in and be vocal — not necessarily be a leader, but be there for the young guys (to) help.”
asserted
guys → want → ?
Anderson’s early impressions remind him of seven years ago, when he joined a Memphis roster that featured rising talents Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
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that → remind → talents
He said that team was close off the court and camaraderie translated to success on the floor.
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camaraderie → say → floor
Anderson expects the same from a young Raptors lineup.
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Anderson → expect → lineup
“I don’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I’m the old head, you got to do it my way,’” Anderson said.
asserted
Anderson → want → it
“I just kind of like to live in their world and kind of live vicariously through them …they’re young in the NBA.
asserted
they → like → NBA
“Thirteen years went by so fast for me, so I just enjoy spending time with them, finding out their interests, what they’re listening to.”
asserted
they → go → what
The Aporia
