The Raptors had two roster spots sitting open as training camp approaches, and two names that fit the bill just went elsewhere. John Konchar and Drew Eubanks are both headed to the New York Knicks, leaving Toronto to keep sorting through the final edges of its roster.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Konchar agreed to a one-year deal with New York, while SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Eubanks is signing with the Knicks on a camp deal.
For Toronto, that stings on two different fronts. Konchar had been connected to the Raptors before the Knicks moved in, and the fit was easy to see.
Marc Stein originally reported Toronto’s interest, which made sense because Darko Rajakovic already knows him well from their time together in Memphis. Rajakovic was an assistant there for three years, and during that stretch he helped Konchar grow from an undrafted free agent into a dependable three-and-D rotation piece.
Konchar is now on track for an eight-year NBA career.
He’s not a natural lead guard or primary creator, but he brings value as a floor spacer and a steady role player. Toronto wasn’t the only team in the mix either; the Magic and Heat were also linked to him. The Knicks still swooped in and landed a 31-year-old who has career averages of 4.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 stocks while shooting 34.9 percent from three.
Eubanks may not carry the same name value, but he would have addressed a clearer need for Toronto. The Raptors are thinner up front, and he would have slotted in as a third-string center. Unlike Konchar, who can bounce between the two, three and even the one depending on the lineup, Eubanks’ role would have been more straightforward.
He’s not flashy, but he’s functional. Eubanks works well in the pick-and-roll, finishes above the rim, and keeps mistakes to a minimum on offense.
In 42 games with the Sacramento Kings last season, he averaged 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 59.6 percent from the field. He also finished in the 90th percentile in rim scoring efficiency, according to Cleaning the Glass, which is the kind of production Toronto could have used when Jakob Poeltl or Collin Murray-Boyles was out.
Entering his ninth NBA season, Eubanks seemed like the kind of veteran the Raptors could have locked in with a guaranteed standard contract. Instead, he’s joining the Knicks on a deal that does not come with that security, just a chance to win a spot.
With Kawhi Leonard officially a Toronto Raptor, the focus in Canada is supposed to be on finishing the roster. Toronto still has two standard spots open, and one likely goes to a young player such as Nimari Burnett, Nate Bittle, or Andre Jackson Jr. if one of them earns it at camp. The other remains unresolved, and losing Konchar and Eubanks to a conference rival and the defending champions is a tough swing for the front office.
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