Raptors hold open tryouts for G-League team as organization continues rebuild

Rebuilding the Toronto Raptors and making them one of the top teams in the NBA again is a project that starts from the ground up.

The Raptors 905, Toronto's G-League affiliate, held open tryouts Saturday at the OVO Athletic Centre, the training facility for the NBA club.

Luke Winn, the organization's director of prospect strategy, said the 905 were looking for at least one player from the tryout to attend training camp.

"I think this is a really important stage for the youth movement on the Raptors," said Winn near the baseline of one of the practice courts. "We did four draft picks this year and a number of undrafted rookies we think are intriguing and our goal first and foremost is to develop them in a competitive and winning environment.

"It will be a success if those [rookies] are ready to contribute for the Raptors, regardless of what happens this season."

A 15-game losing streak saw the Raptors finish last season 25-57 after a series of trades radically changed the roster and effectively ended the team's 2019 NBA championship era.

Toronto then picked shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter 19th overall in the NBA draft on June 26. Power forward Jonathan Mogbo (31st), point guard Jamal Shead (45th), and forward Ulrich Chomche (57th) were selected the next day.

Training camp begins Oct. 1 in Montreal and it's not clear if any of those four will stick with the Raptors. It is, however, very likely that all four picks will spend at least some time with the 905, who play out of the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in nearby Mississauga, Ont.

"Those projects are all very important to us," said Winn on creating an environment that will push the picks to work their hardest. "We have guys competing for spots right now in Raptors training