The Toronto Raptors’ summer has revolved around the unfinished business of a possible trade for Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers, but another move may end up mattering just as much in a quieter way.
Toronto signed veteran forward Kyle Anderson to a one-year deal, and that addition could wind up being the most underrated move of the offseason so far. Anderson arrives with 12 years of NBA experience and a résumé that already ties him to key people in the organization.
He spent four seasons alongside Leonard with the San Antonio Spurs from 2014-18, and he also overlaps with Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic from their time together in Memphis, where Anderson played for the Grizzlies while Rajakovic was an assistant. That familiarity helped shape the decision to bring him in.
That background gives the signing more weight than it might seem to have at first glance. Anderson is not the kind of player who jumps off the page, but his value comes from the way he operates away from the ball as much as when he has it. That kind of presence fits what Toronto needs around Scottie Barnes and Leonard.
The Raptors also had a roster need to address after Sandro Mamukelashvili left in free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers. With Mamukelashvili gone, Toronto needed another frontcourt piece who could move the ball and keep the second unit organized. Anderson has done that in past stops, and the Raptors are clearly betting he can do it again.
His nickname, “Slow-Mo,” fits the way he plays. Anderson can ease into his spots, back defenders down and create his own shot without rushing. He is not coming in as a major scoring threat, but Toronto brought him in to be a defensive anchor off the bench and to help execute Rajakovic’s offensive vision.
It may not be the move that draws the loudest reaction, but the Raptors’ signing of Anderson could end up carrying real weight this season.
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